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.
Because California law requires car washes to have a bond in order to operate, the business was forced to shut down and lay off its workers — the same workers the state was claiming to protect. Anastasia Boden, Oc Register, 2 Sep. 2025 Saks Fulfillment Center in Rutherford County, 446 workers A Saks Fifth Avenue distribution center in La Vergne will permanently close this year and lay off 446 workers, a WARN notice said. Molly Davis, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025 Now, a new project aims to bring in fresh drinking water from the billions of gallons of water that lay off the state's west coast – the Pacific Ocean. New Atlas, 18 Aug. 2025 Many hospitals, especially those with already negative or low operating margins, may be forced to reduce services, lay off staff, or close altogether. Steve Brozak, Forbes.com, 4 July 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 12 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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