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
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2026
The fabric feels light enough for hot weather but still layers nicely with a sweater if evenings get cooler near the water.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
Here, a guest layers hers over a button-down and styles it with a suede skirt, Tabi flats, oversized sunnies, and a tan leather bag.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 21 May 2026
The lightweight, toner-meets-serum formula also layers in niacinamide and adenosine for anyone chasing a bouncy, healthy glow.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 May 2026
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
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
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
Garten layers a trifle bowl with pound cake, fresh raspberries, and orange cream.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2026
The fabric feels light enough for hot weather but still layers nicely with a sweater if evenings get cooler near the water.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
Here, a guest layers hers over a button-down and styles it with a suede skirt, Tabi flats, oversized sunnies, and a tan leather bag.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 21 May 2026
The lightweight, toner-meets-serum formula also layers in niacinamide and adenosine for anyone chasing a bouncy, healthy glow.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 May 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layers
Noun
-
Garrincha also played at the 1966 World Cup, but his drinking had reached catastrophic levels by then.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
UnidosUS notes that both parties are underperforming their 2024 levels among Latinos, which could be a sign of the broader voter discontent across the electorate towards the leadership of both parties.—
Fin Daniel Gómez,
CBS News,
27 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
-
In Akira Ikezoe’s paintings, on view in the Whitney Biennial, artistic, social, ecological, and energy systems enmesh in circular loops that appear schematic, like a Fordist assembly line.—
Emily Watlington,
ARTnews.com,
24 May 2026
-
From the back, the shoe’s slim ankle strap loops through a keeper and fastens with matching gold-tone hardware, while the glossy black footbed keeps the sandal in one continuous finish from the square toe to the heel.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
Audiobooks+ is getting higher-hourly add-on tiers this summer.—
Gabriel Alin Zainescu,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
The rollout of Gemini Omni Flash is currently limited to select subscription tiers in the Gemini app, with broader access expected as the deployment expands.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Get two face powders for just $3 apiece with this clever, travel-friendly compact that stacks two flattering formulas in one.—
Olivia Cigliano,
InStyle,
22 May 2026
-
The three-story house, designed by architect Leigh Snow and built by developer Yousef Audi, stacks 3,573 square feet of living space up a steep incline carved out by a massive concrete retaining wall.—
Sandra Barrera,
Oc Register,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Cruelty and ruthlessness are deemed just, not only in the highest echelons of politics but also trickling down to daily life.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
-
There’s often a great deal of hype (some deserved, some not) and vendor promises about transformation and new echelons of efficiency.—
Eddy Azad,
Forbes.com,
20 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 1 Jun. 2026.
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