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
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
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
Rather than allowing its typical lightness, Benning layers their brushstrokes purposefully so as to establish new kinds of relationships, both pictorial and material.
—Alex Bacon, Artforum, 10 Feb. 2026
But this new permanent menu item layers the fountain beverages and ice cream rather than blending them together.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
In Galanin’s mercifully direct lyrics, Native dream psychology layers over intimate portrayals of kinship.
—Petala Ironcloud, Pitchfork, 20 Jan. 2026
Alternatively, the Energy Top gives a looser, more relaxed fit that still layers well and is a steal at $43.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
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
Rather than allowing its typical lightness, Benning layers their brushstrokes purposefully so as to establish new kinds of relationships, both pictorial and material.
—Alex Bacon, Artforum, 10 Feb. 2026
But this new permanent menu item layers the fountain beverages and ice cream rather than blending them together.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
In Galanin’s mercifully direct lyrics, Native dream psychology layers over intimate portrayals of kinship.
—Petala Ironcloud, Pitchfork, 20 Jan. 2026
Alternatively, the Energy Top gives a looser, more relaxed fit that still layers well and is a steal at $43.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layers
Noun
-
Some groundwater monitoring wells detected contamination levels higher than at any point since 1991, which the county believes may be due to a new leak.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The animations show levels of sophistication and internet access that indicate ties to government offices, said Mahsa Alimardani, a director of WITNESS, a human-rights group working on AI video evidence.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 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
-
Many songs are now written on computers, using sequencers, patterns, and loops, with notes laid out in perfect synchrony on a rhythmic, 4/4 grid.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
These marvels of engineering elevate riders as high as 210 feet (64 meters), send them through dizzying loops and corkscrews and propel them at speeds as high as 76 mph (122 kilometers per hour).—
John Haddad,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The research team scored diets on three tiers of quality.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
-
According to his posts, Starlink Residential plans will be bundled with US Mobile first, while the Starlink Roam tiers will arrive in the coming weeks.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The potato stacks pair beautifully with roast beef, steak, chicken, or sautéed fish.—
Victoria Spencer,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
-
To solve the couple's particular design puzzle, the studio came up with Light House, a vertical home that places each of the family’s major activities in its own dedicated box and playfully stacks them on top of one another.—
Stefan Ionescu
March 30,
New Atlas,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Khosla himself has endorsed the idea of a national wealth fund, and the symmetry between his individual advocacy and OpenAI’s institutional proposal suggests that a policy framework is crystallizing within the AI industry’s upper echelons.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Instead, more households are climbing into the echelons of the upper middle class due to income gains in recent decades, according to research from the nonpartisan American Enterprise Institute.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 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 13 Apr. 2026.
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