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
  • Beyond seeking members' votes, campaigns and the party look to organized labor for help in spreading Democrats' message to voters and getting people to the polls.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • And alumni are among the college’s best ambassadors for spreading that message, insists Emma Donatille, executive director of the WCC Foundation that has handed out nearly $440,000 in scholarships over the years.
    — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of spread
Verb
  • One of its key functions has been for healing, often employing a complex knowledge of medicinal plants and in many cases providing the only medical services available within African American communities.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • For startups like Code Metal—which employs 123 people—the challenge now is turning one-off opportunities, like the new $80 million Pentagon deal, into repeatable, expandable business.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of employ
Verb
  • The marks apply across all Claude surfaces people use — the API, Claude Code, Claude Cowork and deployments through AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft Foundry.
    — Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But no matter the amount returned, states have held that their specific rules apply to banks lending within their borders.
    — P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 13 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
  • And who knows about Newcastle, who have lost three crucial players and only really brought in promising youngsters, all of whom will be managed by someone recruited from the Saudi Pro League.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Directed by Jon Favreau, the film premiered in theaters May 22 and follows bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his apprentice, Grogu, as they’re recruited by officer Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver) to aid the New Republic.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 14 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 16 Aug. 2026.

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