lying
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
How often you will meet it
Rank 838 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 21,755 times across 155,139 chapters — 0.010% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- the deliberate act of deviating from the truth also: prevarication, fabrication
lying in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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When his old kinsman entered, Cambyses was lying on his purple couch, pale as death.
An Egyptian Princess — Volume 07 · Georg Ebers · Chapter 1
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They knew the catastrophe; and the newspaper lying on the table showed how they had heard it.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1
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They went down the broad flight of ancient stone steps which led to the tennis-court, lying in full view below the lawn.
Emily Fox-Seton · Frances Hodgson Burnett · Chapter 1
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When he came there he saw the two donkeys running about in the courtyard, but the salad was lying on the ground.
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1