as in piles
to form or arrange parts or pieces of something on top of each other; to form or arrange (something) in layers
The next step in the recipe is to layer the pasta and the sauce in the pan. We layered the fruit with whipped cream and served it with cookies.
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Recent Examples of layers
Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Look at the layers of soil and grass and measure how thick the layer of thatch is.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
The Spicy Brisket Sub layers the protein with Colby Jack cheese, jalapeños, Publix Fried Onions and Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce.
—Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
The firm’s interiors feel daring yet steeped in design history, and the designer masterfully layers bold color palettes and whimsical patterns.
—Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 19 Apr. 2026
Debić layers the egg tulip blooms onto a serving tray, then uses long scallions at the base of each egg to create the tulip stems.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026
Colorado Opening June 2026 White Elephant Aspen is set to introduce a modern mountain aesthetic to the area with a contemporary 54-room hotel that layers leather and stone design elements with local artwork.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
With a serum-like texture, the formula layers seamlessly under makeup, and delivers a dewy finish.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026
Here, a guest layers hers underneath a sweater, pairs with a matching ensemble, and black kitten heels–proof that even a tiny peek of white can add instant dimension to a look.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
The event layers opera, dance, theater, and music performances on top of an already vibrant city.
—Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
It’s also made with five foam layers that create a balanced feel, starting with a soft, quilted top layer that gives it an instantly cozy finish.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Look at the layers of soil and grass and measure how thick the layer of thatch is.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
But BandWith Chicago’s new home in East Garfield Park displays a more contemporary approach to minimalism, one that richly layers old and new elements in a compelling solution that is modest and straightforward while equally elegant and nuanced.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
The Spicy Brisket Sub layers the protein with Colby Jack cheese, jalapeños, Publix Fried Onions and Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce.
—Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
The firm’s interiors feel daring yet steeped in design history, and the designer masterfully layers bold color palettes and whimsical patterns.
—Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 19 Apr. 2026
Debić layers the egg tulip blooms onto a serving tray, then uses long scallions at the base of each egg to create the tulip stems.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026
Colorado Opening June 2026 White Elephant Aspen is set to introduce a modern mountain aesthetic to the area with a contemporary 54-room hotel that layers leather and stone design elements with local artwork.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
With a serum-like texture, the formula layers seamlessly under makeup, and delivers a dewy finish.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026
Here, a guest layers hers underneath a sweater, pairs with a matching ensemble, and black kitten heels–proof that even a tiny peek of white can add instant dimension to a look.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
The event layers opera, dance, theater, and music performances on top of an already vibrant city.
—Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layers
Noun
-
The department said its Gaslamp Enforcement teams can face large crowds, active fights and high levels of intoxication and sometimes deal with situations that quickly escalate.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
The hotel runs on a mix of solar and diesel power, switching to the next-generation generators when battery levels drop below 40%.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
More specifically — and without spoiling a story that piles the twists as high as the corpses — Pine's an ex-British soldier pulled from his porter duties and recruited to surveil a ruthless arms dealer, Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie) staying at the hotel.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The result piles more pressure on Starmer, the least popular prime minister since records began, according to some polls.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The crease-free ties are customizable for every hair type and style -- four loops for thick hair, two loops for regular ponytails or messy buns, and baby loops for braids or fine hair.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
-
Interior elastic loops and a mesh slip pocket keep bottles and smaller accessories secure, while the spacious 2-liter interior holds everything neatly in one place.—
Kayla Kitts,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The pricing structure reflects the computational demands of real-time rendering and offers users different tiers of access to the app’s more advanced features.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
-
Tickets of all tiers are still available, starting at $174 for a one-day general admission ticket, though prices will increase soon.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The whole pitch falls flat if WWE just stacks the card with names already over — there's nothing to learn about Oba Femi's audience pull when his Raw run already has the building behind him.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
The side table unfolds into six stools for gatherings, then neatly stacks back together into a stylish end piece.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When a chance encounter with a distraught stranger on a subway goes horribly wrong, Reacher is drawn into a complex and deadly game that pits him against ruthless foes from the highest echelons of power.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, the rest of the NBA is widely expected to be more competitive next season — from the bottom tier, where anti-tanking regulations and a weaker draft class should curb teams’ intentional losing, to the upper echelons, where Oklahoma City and San Antonio stand tall.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
For this super laidback, windchill-ready look, Hadid wore a beanie hat over her plaits, ski goggle-like black sunglasses, and black leather gloves.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Low-tension styles are no longer just a few neat plaits.—
Donnetta Monk,
Essence,
21 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Overly Elaborate Pleats Heavy, elaborate pleats can make curtains look stiff and overly formal, which is why designers are favoring simpler, more elegant pleat styles.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Layers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layers. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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