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
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Controlling a fire means ensuring that the fire can't spread or cross the containment line.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025 -
Ten Hag’s first season at United yielded silverware and a third-place league finish, but also had bouts of concerning away form, with tactical weaknesses that would eventually spread and critically undermine his plans for the future.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The plant was projected to employ up to 8,500 people when complete.—
Caroll Alvarado,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
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The Jayhawks had decided, coach Lance Leipold said postgame, to run out the clock rather than trying to score in the final minute — a sharp departure from the aggressive play-calling KU had employed in the first quarter.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The legislation will limit repayment options and cap borrowing limits for graduate students, including eliminating Graduate PLUS loans, forcing more students to apply for private loans or reconsider their education options.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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While mopping, its spinning pads apply 12 Newtons of downward pressure and spin at up to 200 rotations per minute (RPM).—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Hit Man Based on an outrageous true story, Richard Linklater's 2024 action rom-com sees Glen Powell donning the many disguises of Gary Johnson, a New Orleans Police Department contractor who poses as a hitman to arrest those trying to hire him.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Coleman was recruited to Arizona by Fisch and transferred to Washington when the coach was hired in Seattle.—
Joe Davidosn,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Overnight, crews will build hose lays along fire breaks and reinforce lines.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The kids with the balls spent all that time hunkered down on the stairs, laying low and waiting to be allowed back to their seats.—
The Athletic Tennis Staff,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Cassellius has since recruited new leaders over operations, human resources, communications and academics.—
Rory Linnane,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Iran deployed human-wave attacks and recruited child soldiers as human minesweepers.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Rubbing will smear the mud and cause a bigger problem.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
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Jason’s windshield was smeared, and the late-afternoon sunlight came through hazily.—
Akhil Sharma,
New Yorker,
28 Aug. 2025
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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 10 Sep. 2025.
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