LYING
- New
Est. 1828
DictionaryDefinition
- adjective
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lying
1 of 2
adjective
ly·ing ˈlī-iŋ
: marked by or containing untrue statements : false
a lying account of the accident
lying2 of 2
present participle of lie
Synonyms
Adjective
Examples of lying in a Sentence
Adjectivethat lying son of a gun told me that the used car had never been in an accident
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
He was found dead lying face up on his hotel bed with no signs of trauma, according to a Monday report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.—Kenan Draughorne, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2022
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English leghynge, present participle of lien to lie
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of lying was in the 14th century
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Phrases Containing lying
Rhymes for lying
Browse Nearby Words
lying
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“Lying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lying. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
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Kids Definition
lying1 of 2
ly·ing
ˈlī-iŋ
present participle of lie
lying2 of 2adjective
: untruthful, false
a lying account of the accident
Legal Definition
lying
present participle of lie
More from Merriam-Webster on lying
Nglish: Translation of lying for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lying
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