lying on bed vs lying in bed

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Lying on bed' is used when someone is lying on top of the bed, while 'lying in bed' is used when someone is under the covers or inside the bed. They are not interchangeable as they convey different positions.

Last updated: March 21, 2024 • 1300 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used when someone is lying on top of the bed.

"lying on bed"

This phrase is used to describe the action of lying down on the surface of the bed.

Examples:

I was feeling tired, so I decided to lie on bed for a while.
She enjoys reading books while lying on bed.

Show examples from the web [+]

Woman lying on bed with legs raised in air : Stock Photo ... in air · Attractive young woman lying on bed,low section · Woman lying on bed reading · Feet on bed ...
... without a watermark. Want to embed this image on a non-commercial website or blog? Learn more. Search. NUDE WOMAN LYING ON BED : Stock Photo.
May 10, 2015 ... reposeful. (in) a state of rest, sleep, or tranquility: Though I must admit, neither of these are applied exclusively to describe lying on bed. [Oxford] ...
Ruskin Bond Gets His Story Ideas Lying on Bed. By PTI. Published: 27th January 2016 11:22 AM. Last Updated: 27th January 2016 11:27 AM. First name.

Alternatives:

lying on the bed
lying down on the bed
lying across the bed
lying on top of the bed
lying flat on the bed

This phrase is correct and commonly used when someone is under the covers or inside the bed.

"lying in bed"

This phrase is used to describe the action of lying down under the covers or inside the bed.

Examples:

I like to listen to music while lying in bed.
He was sick, so he spent the whole day lying in bed.

Show examples from the web [+]

I've been lying in bed at night just listening to my mosquitoes die in my new bug zapper.
Actually, forgive me if I don't find this all slightly hypocritical, me lying in bed with someone else.
Well, I was lying in bed, and I was thinking about us, and how, when we were 16, we planned our trip to Paris, but it kind of got derailed.
I was lying in bed last night covered in hand lotion.
He's lying in bed, whizzing, with his eyes closed.
Last night when I was lying in bed watching the ceiling spin...
Just because I'm lying in bed all day doesn't mean I don't know when something's up.
Sometimes, though, when you're lying in bed at night, you can feel it...
I'll never get my promotion confirmed lying in bed.
Oh. I got mono the first day I was there, so the only French I know is from lying in bed watching "cheers" reruns.
We're lying in bed, thinking, Where is she now?
Imagine if we were lying in bed and somebody broke in.
I was lying in bed sucking oranges, to tone up the system, you know, when all at once I said to myself,
IT'S SUNDAY MORNING AND I'M LYING IN BED.
I was lying in bed, thinking about turning myself in.
Anders is lying in bed with her dad.
There's no point lying in bed if you can't sleep.
The three of us lying in bed together...
And he broke it lying in bed.
I was lying in bed... and suddenly I saw this hairy arm.

Alternatives:

lying on the bed
lying down in bed
lying under the covers
lying beneath the covers
resting in bed

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lying on bed vs lying in bed

"lying on bed"

"lying in bed"

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