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
Relevance
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
Verb
-
Measles is highly contagious and can spread through the air when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026 -
Misinformation and conspiracy theories about the public health system also spread during the pandemic, and longtime anti-vaccine activist groups saw a swell in interest from the wider public.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The company employs around 10,000 people.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Around 20% of Americans aged 65 and older are employed—nearly double the share of those who were working 35 years ago—according to a 2024 analysis from Pew Research Center.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Eight of these units were connected to each other and a linear actuator was installed at one end of the line to apply the force needed to activate the elastocaloric effect.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Feb. 2026
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Regardless of the type, apply the fertilizer in late winter to prepare your tree for the upcoming growing season.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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David Plotz, the CEO of City Cast, told Semafor in a phone call that the local podcast network was expanding its coverage of Washington as a direct result of the Post’s pullback, and would be immediately hiring four multi-platform journalists.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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One Florida resident reportedly hired a local mover without bothering to determine if the company was licensed, only to run into a boatload of trouble.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Nevertheless, laid low by cancer and the claim battle, Karen Powers continued on in the job that had provided her with a lifelong sense of meaning and purpose.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
-
In 2025, Zuckerberg and Chan laid the groundwork to recalibrate their philanthropic organization toward AI-powered biomedical research, with a particular focus on their flagship Biohub network.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Once recruited, victims were allegedly forced to conduct romance scams, fake cryptocurrency investment schemes and other online frauds targeting victims abroad.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
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In an article for the Harvard Business Review, the researchers made a case for sabbaticals as a tool employers could use to recruit, keep and foster talented workers.—
Colleen Newvine,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The attorneys went on to argue that Pavlovich’s lawsuits were the culmination of a plan to smear Gaiman and that any legal disputes should be resolved in New Zealand, not the United States.—
Todd Richmond,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
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As a result, calls for action have been met with suspicion, with some online commentators accusing feminists of making up MaskPark as a way to smear Chinese men.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
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Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20on. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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