Lay vs Put

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

	Lay	Put
Meaning	To put something down flat.	to move something to a specific place
CEFR level	B1	A1
Part of speech	verb	verb
Usage notes	Use 'lay' when placing objects down. It is not appropriate to use 'lay' for living things, like people or animals. People often confuse 'lay' and 'lie'.	Used in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using in overly formal situations without additional context. Commonly used to denote placing items.

Frequently asked questions: Lay vs Put

What's the difference between "Lay" and "Put"?

"Lay" means: To put something down flat. "Put" means: to move something to a specific place

When should I use "Lay" and "Put"?

They can all be used in everyday English.

Are "Lay" and "Put" the same CEFR level?

"Lay" is at B1, "Put" is at A1 on the CEFR scale.