lay on

verb

Definition of lay onnext
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

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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
  1. spread
  2. employ
  3. apply
  4. hire
  5. lay
  6. recruit
  7. smear
Verb
  • Smoke higher in the atmosphere will also spread farther east into the Northern Plains and Midwest.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Thursday’s best performances spread the entire field, with six different men leading the six individual apparatus races.
    — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of spread
Verb
  • Closer to the front lines, Russians have employed smaller attack drones to terrorize civilian areas in Ukraine, targeting gas stations and vehicles.
    — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Rivian’s headquarters employs 130 people and is expected to grow to 500 by 2030.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of employ
Verb
  • This now applies to veterans, homeless individuals, young adults aging out of foster care, parents of 14- to 17-year-olds and those aged 55 to 64.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 5 Aug. 2026
  • If the shooter is reckless, like firing a weapon into the air, a state law regarding reckless behavior would apply.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of apply
Verb
  • The group hired Chrissi Rawak, the former athletics director at Delaware, as its new CEO in February 2025.
    — Matt Moret, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The Bruins announced the hiring Monday of the 35-year-old Carr, who is volunteering in his first major coaching role.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of hire
Verb
  • Elkins had announced the retirement before fight week, calling it his last dance, and laid his gloves in the center of the octagon afterward.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Daemon brings troops and his dragon Caraxes, but holds out on laying siege for as long as possible, especially as Ormund has stationed children on the battlements and in front of the gates to the city.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of lay
Verb
  • Whereas 20 years ago, banks began recruiting for summer interns in the spring, today the process begins two years ahead of time.
    — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Fischer had tried to recruit others in her crusade against the local government, including foreman Ben Kessler.
    — Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of recruit
Verb
  • The atmosphere works on them a little bit harder and reduces their strength and smears them a little bit more.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Camille can still picture Burke standing over her, fake blood smeared across her dress.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of smear
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.

Browse Nearby Words

layoffs
lay on
layout
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Cite this Entry

“Lay on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20on. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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