laying on

verb

present participle of lay on
1
as in applying
to put a layer of on a surface she lays the butter on so thickly that you hardly taste the bagel

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in employing
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 laying on
  1. applying
  2. employing
  3. spreading
  4. hiring
  5. smearing
  6. recruiting
  7. laying
  8. taking on
Verb
  • The state should have to individually make cases to collect the money rather than automatically applying liens.
    — Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Doing so would entail repairing cracks that admit water, maintaining the foundations of each section, applying a sealant to slow the weathering process, and keeping the encroachment of vegetation in check.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of applying
Verb
  • In recent years, the local economy has improved as the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base expanded, now directly employing 38,000 people.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • That expands the number of platforms capable of employing the system during defensive or offensive operations.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of employing
Verb
  • The arrests deepen concerns about press freedom in Egypt, where authorities have repeatedly accused journalists and government critics of Brotherhood ties or spreading false news.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Instead of spreading yarn spinning, knitting, and dyeing across different locations, the Guatemalan plant brings the entire process together in one place.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of spreading
Verb
  • Goal-setting with families would be optional, as would hiring preferences for Head Start parents.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The board voted 6-2 Tuesday to create a committee that will oversee the search for Crystal Hill’s replacement, taking its first formal step toward hiring a new superintendent one week after abruptly firing Hill.
    — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of hiring
Verb
  • Yet what follows is an extended list of ethical sins, with a focus on the sins of abusive speech, such as slandering, slurring, slighting and smearing the reputations of others.
    — Reuven Kimelman, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026
  • People have gone from smearing the compound on their faces to using injections, in hopes of achieving firmer, wrinkle-free skin and other anti-aging benefits.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of smearing
Verb
  • However, the biggest challenge lies in recruiting for engineering and software positions.
    — Chase Jordan October 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Among dentists recruiting hygienists, 91% said hiring was very or extremely challenging.
    — Manjot Pal, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of recruiting
Verb
  • The first boat reached its keel-laying milestone at Muggiano in February 2026, with delivery planned for 2029.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Recent reports say Goldman is laying the groundwork for Waldron to take over as soon as 2027 or 2028.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of laying
Verb
  • Pugh also serves as an executive producer on East of Eden, taking on a central role in the creation of the series since she was brought on in 2020.
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Her whole mission in taking on that case was to do it differently than the other case.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of taking on
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

laying off (of)
laying on
laying on of hands
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Laying on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20on. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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