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
Relevance
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
Verb
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Regularly applying sealer to your grout and keeping the area clean is your best chance at preventing mold and mildew growth along your grout.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026 -
My hair feels brittle, my skin is dry from the cold weather, and my makeup is not applying right.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Russia has been pounding Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with drones and missiles in recent weeks, employing a tactic used in previous winters.—
Daria Tarasova-Markina,
CNN Money,
2 Jan. 2026
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Local productions shifted away from sweeping narratives toward stories reflecting everyday life, employing diverse visual styles and genres to meet varied audience preferences.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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South Florida doctors are seeing more people with cough, fever and other flu-like symptoms as a rapidly spreading influenza strain circulates across the country this winter.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
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Rob became an executive producer of Lyrics From Lockdown and the show traveled across the country, spreading awareness of Williams’ story.—
Latoya Gayle,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Since 2022, numerous campuses have added new safety features – such as installing more cameras on campus and hiring additional police officers – while also working to strengthen their relationships with federal and local law enforcement, according to Inside Higher Ed.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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The defense lawyer had long since moved on from the Rideout case to defend other clients, including one accused of hiring someone to kill his former wife.—
Sarah Weinman,
Rolling Stone,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The vacuum cleaner has powerful suction, 8,000 Pa, and the mop cleans without sloshing and smearing water on the floor.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
6 Jan. 2026
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Despite the controversy, most Glamour staffers can recall smearing on play makeup or stealing mommy’s moisturizer.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
13 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Still, the study’s findings challenge the emphasis on early signs of high performance that elite schools, conservatories and youth sport academies often look for when recruiting talent.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
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Players with lots of recruiting stars next to their names and coaches with lots of zeroes on their paychecks.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Off the ice, Pulford was the first president of the players union, taking part in early collective bargaining and laying the foundation for the modern NHLPA.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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The family has been laying low except for a brief statement shared Saturday with E!—
Theresa Braine,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While not everyone gets their wishes, those with no interest in taking on the deceptive — and challenging — role of a Traitor likely won't be chosen.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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The figure of Achilles, a warrior who singlehandedly choked a river with dead enemies before taking on the river god himself, provided a model for Alexander the Great and persists in contemporary popular entertainment, political speech, and military culture in celebrations of shock and awe.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Laying on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20on. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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