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.
When the administration suddenly terminated its grant, the organization had to cancel community events and lay off three violence-prevention workers who had forged deep ties and built trust with high-risk individuals, according to the lawsuit. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 7 June 2025 San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria anticipated the loss of funding would force his city to reduce its shelter system by more than 425 beds, or roughly one-third, including 52 youth beds, and lay off 13 full-time outreach workers. Devan Patel, Mercury News, 6 June 2025 Medicaid cuts would force provider agencies to reduce hours, lay off staff, or close entirely — collapsing the fragile support systems people with disabilities depend on. Joseph MacBeth, Sun Sentinel, 21 May 2025 But if prices remain around these levels or fall further, U.S. oil and gas companies are likely to slow drilling, cut spending and lay off workers. Rebecca F. Elliott, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Lie off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lie%20off. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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