- to lose (something) temporarily, esp by forgetting where it is
- to lay (something) badly
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
mis•lay /mɪsˈleɪ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -laid, -lay•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to lose temporarily;
misplace:I mislaid my keys. - to lay or place (something) wrongly:to mislay linoleum on the kitchen floor.
mis•lay
(mis lā′),USA pronunciation v.t., -laid, -lay•ing.
mis•lay′er, n.
- to lose temporarily;
misplace:He mislaid his keys. - to lay or place wrongly;
arrange or situate improperly:to mislay linoleum.
- Middle English mysse layen. See mis-1, lay1 1350–1400
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
mislay /mɪsˈleɪ/ vb ( -lays, -laying, -laid) (transitive)
'mislay' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):