Layover vs. Lay Over
“Layover” is the closed US noun for a short stop during a longer trip. Oxford records “lay over” as a North American phrasal verb for staying somewhere briefly during a journey; British English more often uses “stopover” for the noun.
Use “layover” as the US noun for a short stop during a longer journey. Use “lay over” as the North American phrasal verb for making or spending such a temporary stop.
Key details
Choose the right form
| If you mean / need | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| a temporary travel stop as a noun | layover | Cambridge labels the noun as US English. |
| to stay somewhere briefly during a longer journey | lay over | Oxford labels this phrasal-verb use as North American English. |
Further guidance
Core difference
Use the documented noun or modifier form when naming a thing, result, event, or concept; use the spaced form when the words function as a verb.
Fast Test
If the expression can take ordinary verb tense or inflection in the sentence, the spaced verb form is usually the relevant choice.
Variant Boundary
Cambridge labels “layover” as a US noun, while Oxford records “lay over” as a North American phrasal verb for a temporary stop during a journey.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Layover — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · US noun “layover” for a short stop during a longer journey
- Lay over — Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary · North American phrasal verb “lay over” for staying somewhere briefly during a long journey