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
-
As word spread on social media, Ozzy Osbourne stopped by.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026 -
Malliotakis has a history of spreading misleading information and incendiary lies tying immigrants to crimes, despite data showing immigrants commit crimes at far lower rates than others.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The company employs around 10,000 people.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Around 20% of Americans aged 65 and older are employed—nearly double the share of those who were working 35 years ago—according to a 2024 analysis from Pew Research Center.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Eight of these units were connected to each other and a linear actuator was installed at one end of the line to apply the force needed to activate the elastocaloric effect.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Regardless of the type, apply the fertilizer in late winter to prepare your tree for the upcoming growing season.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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David Plotz, the CEO of City Cast, told Semafor in a phone call that the local podcast network was expanding its coverage of Washington as a direct result of the Post’s pullback, and would be immediately hiring four multi-platform journalists.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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One Florida resident reportedly hired a local mover without bothering to determine if the company was licensed, only to run into a boatload of trouble.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Both of his White House bids would lay the foundational work for former President Barack Obama’s successful and historic two terms in office.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Feb. 2026
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But only one of them will be able to lay full claim to that distinction once the results on the March 3 primary are in.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Once recruited, victims were allegedly forced to conduct romance scams, fake cryptocurrency investment schemes and other online frauds targeting victims abroad.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
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In an article for the Harvard Business Review, the researchers made a case for sabbaticals as a tool employers could use to recruit, keep and foster talented workers.—
Colleen Newvine,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The attorneys went on to argue that Pavlovich’s lawsuits were the culmination of a plan to smear Gaiman and that any legal disputes should be resolved in New Zealand, not the United States.—
Todd Richmond,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
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As a result, calls for action have been met with suspicion, with some online commentators accusing feminists of making up MaskPark as a way to smear Chinese men.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
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Video
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 19 Feb. 2026.
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