hay 1 of 2

noun

ˈhā How to pronounce hay (audio)
Definition of haynext
1
as in dime
a very small sum of money their credit card debt isn't hay—it'll take years to pay it off

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bed
slang a place set aside for sleeping dragging myself out of the hay on such a cold, dreary morning seemed like an act of sheer masochism

Synonyms & Similar Words

hay

2 of 2

verb

as in to mow

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hay
Noun
Along with the maze, the farm has two jump pads, a hay maze and hay pyramid, an apple train, a kid’s corn pit, mega slide, tire mountain, bubble barn, confusion maze, tractor rides and other activities. — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026 The property brings together a farmhouse and hay barn more than 500 years old with a newer addition, all furnished with pieces sourced from around the world. — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
As part of that contract, and to maintain high-quality habitat, participating landowners can’t graze or hay the acreage during those five years. — Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025 The holiday is loaded with customs such as leaving grass or hay out for the three kings in exchange for a gift. — Gabriela Miranda, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2022 See All Example Sentences for hay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hay
  1. dime
  2. bed
  3. mow
  4. bunk
  5. forage
  6. trap
  7. cut
  8. glean
Noun
  • As part of the yearlong celebration, the Mint is introducing one-year-only changes to familiar American coinage, including the circulating dime, quarter, and half dollar.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Plus, Anarumo likes to deploy nickel and dime packages, which opens the door for more defensive backs to see the field.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of dime
Noun
  • Think custom modern furniture, beds dressed in cloud-like linens, and soothing palettes of cream, sand and light timber.
    — Stephanie Orma, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Cole had risen from bed, turned on the light by her sister’s desk, then left her alone.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of bed
Verb
  • As with tarping, mow ragweed plants down first, moisten the soil with your hose, anchor the plastic sheeting over the soil with rocks or landscape staples, and leave the sheeting in place for 4 to 6 weeks during hot weather.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
  • However, while mowing and aerating may be top-of-mind, top dressing isn’t always a go-to task on the lawn care checklist.
    — Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of mow
Noun
  • Two-thirds of the building had been converted into sleeping barracks, with double-decker bunks crowded one against the other.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Los Angeles Police Department released a video that shows officers at the Valley jail manhandle an uncooperative inmate who died after he was left handcuffed with a bag over his head while laying prone on the bunk in his cell.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of bunk
Verb
  • Dressed in a white T-shirt, a breezy maxiskirt, and a straw hat, the Duchess of Sussex could be seen foraging in the backyard of her massive Montecito home, basket in tow.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026
  • How to Tell if a Skunk is Abandoned Your initial assumption should be that the mother is simply out foraging and that this baby has not been orphaned, says Single.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of forage
Verb
  • Go to the highest level of the building if you are trapped by flooding.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • During reentry, gases became trapped in the heat shield, leading to cracking.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of trap
Verb
  • The threat of shortages pushed countries across Asia to impose export bans, cut import duties, and start rationing fuel to maintain supplies.
    — Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike the heavy smoky eyes and cut creases of the 2010s, this trend is throwing it back to the 1990s when smoky eyes were more minimalist.
    — Elle Turner, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of cut
Verb
  • There are no recordings from the time, of course, so we're left to try and glean information from contemporary journals, letters and diaries, said Esteban Touma, a linguistics expert with Babbel, the online language learning platform.
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Just as Fisher was able to glean something new about David Beckham through his ignorance of the England star’s football career, Macdonald got under Guardiola’s skin by using his disinterest in the sport as a superpower.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of glean

Phrases Containing hay

Browse Nearby Words

haws
hay
hayed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hay. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on hay

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hay

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All