lie off

verb

lay off; lain off; lying off; lies off

intransitive verb

1
: to hold back in the early part of a race
2
: to keep a little away from the shore or another ship
3
: to cease work for a time

Examples of lie off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tehran may even go as far as demanding the unfreezing of sanctioned assets abroad or charging a toll for countries using the narrow maritime corridor that lies off the coast of Iran in international waters, analysts say. Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026 Nissan is expected to close seven production facilities by 2027 and lay off 20,000 employees. Michael Taylor, Forbes.com, 4 Feb. 2026 Argentina is bearing much of the brunt of rising Chinese imports, as local factories shut down and lay off workers in a manufacturing sector that employs almost a fifth of its workforce. Chan Ho-Him, Fortune, 2 Feb. 2026 But what Flanagan’s campaign promotions about her board experience omit are the votes to slash budgets, lay off teachers, and close entire schools as the district struggled with declining enrollments, as well as costly scandals and a new headquarters that ballooned in cost to more than $40 million. Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 19 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lie off

Word History

First Known Use

1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lie off was in 1573

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lie off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lie%20off. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster