1
as in to spread
to put a layer of on a surface
she lays the butter on so thickly that you hardly taste the bagel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to employ
chiefly British
to provide with a paying job
lay on more staff for the busy tourist season in the Lake District
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay on
Verb
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The shutdown’s ripple effects spread across nearly every part of the air travel network Friday, with the nation’s busiest airports hit hardest.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025 -
Controlling a fire means ensuring that the fire can't spread or cross the containment line.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Trucking employs millions of drivers across the United States, and experts predict that job roles will evolve as fleets adopt autonomous systems.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Many of those bases employ local workers in roles ranging from food service and construction to logistics and maintenance.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Regional restrictions may apply.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Future research could explore whether similar biases apply to other visible traits, such as race or disability.—
Abby Frank,
The Conversation,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Investigations found the voicemails of public figures were hacked by journalists and private investigators hired by publications who worked on the assumption that few people changed the default voicemail access code their handset came with.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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When Bournemouth hired Iraola the following summer, Perez was invited to replace him but chose instead to accompany his pal to the Premier League.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Thailand accused Cambodia of laying fresh landmines following the removal of a barbed wire fence, which was discovered on November 9.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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Thank you @cyndilauper for laying the groundwork for artists like me to thrive.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Friedrichsen, recruited heavily by the Wildcats out of high school, played two seasons for the Demon Deacons before hitting the portal and landing with McKillop’s 2025-26 squad.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Nov. 2025
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Russia recruited some 420,000 personnel in 2024 and over 300,000 in 2025—numbers that have enabled its relentless, if costly, infantry assaults.—
Jack Watling,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The vacuum cleaner has powerful suction, and the mop cleans without sloshing and smearing water on the floor.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
3 Nov. 2025
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Trudeau wrapped his other arm around Hadrien, who had smeared fake blood on the side of his face.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20on. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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