What does allay mean?
Word: Allay
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Allay means to calm or ease an unwanted feeling such as a worry or a doubt.
Synonyms: calm, ease, soothe
Antonyms: increase
How do you spell allay?
Syllables: al - lay
Tricky part: The ending is ay, as in delay, so it is never ey as in the narrow lane called an alley.
Watch out for: allai, allaye
Memory tip: An alley is a lane, but allay is an action: let the a of action sit just before the y.
Allay in a sentence
Example 1: A phone call from my sister soon allayed my mother's concern.
Example 2: The captain tried to allay the team's disappointment with a joke.
Example 3: Clear instructions can allay a lot of confusion before a big test.
Fun Fact
It comes from Old English alecgan, 'to put down', so to allay a worry is, in a way, to lay it down.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word allay as used in the sentence:
The headmistress wrote to parents to allay their worries about the new timetable.
a) discuss
b) record
c) intensify
d) explain
Show answer
c) intensify. To intensify a worry is to make it stronger, the reverse of what she wanted.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters to find the word that fits the sentence:
A cool glass of nimbu pani helped to yalal my thirst on the long walk home.
a) ally
b) allay
c) alloy
d) align
Show answer
b) allay. Alloy needs an o, ally is a letter short, and align has an i, a g and an n.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
A short, friendly talk from the coach was enough to alay the doubts of the younger players before the inter-school final began.
a) friendly
b) younger
c) alay
d) doubts
Show answer
c) alay. Two l's follow the opening a.
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. persue 2. aquaint 3. embarass 4. allay
a) to bring down an anxious feeling
b) to make someone feel shy or awkward
c) to make someone familiar with something
d) to follow or chase
Show answer
a) to bring down an anxious feeling. Pursue, embarrass and acquaint are all misspelt, which leaves allay.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What is most likely to allay a nervous student's worries before a test?
a) a late night of last-minute cramming
b) a calm talk with a kind teacher
c) a rumour of a much harder paper
d) a loud argument in the corridor
Show answer
b) a calm talk with a kind teacher
2. After a clear notice had allayed public concern, people felt ____.
a) annoyed
b) confused
c) reassured
d) bored
Show answer
c) reassured
