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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Ohio’s exemption is fairly broad, applying not only to construction materials, but to the expensive equipment — such as server racks and cooling systems — used in data centers.—
Marc Levy,
Fortune,
29 May 2026 -
Travelers who have spent the past several years scrutinizing where their food, clothing and home goods come from are now applying the same questions to their vacation memorabilia.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The show also includes looks that are really about preserving the performer’s face and employing subtle transformations via stubble or smaller prosthetic pieces.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
4 June 2026
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But luckily, Robert and Michelle King's The Good Wife spinoff is used to employing stage actors like Wendell Pierce, Carra Patterson, Christian Borle, Lindsay Mendez and Micaela Diamond.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Speaking of spreading the floor, Wembanyama has 20 more 3-point field goals at the end of his third season than all-time NBA 3-point leader Stephen Curry.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
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When someone dies of Ebola, their body continues to be highly contagious for seven or so days, with the virus spreading through bodily fluids.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
29 May 2026
Verb
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When Tracy was elevated from Triple-A to the big leagues Breslow didn’t rule out hiring a permanent manager midseason.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
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The airline has been hiring crew members from the defunct Spirit Airlines and expanding its pilot base at FLL.—
Jeff Kleinman,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
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This will lead to smearing dust particles around instead of picking them up, which is where a wet cloth comes into play.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
5 June 2026
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While being held at the Independence Police Department’s detention unit, Ashley allegedly damaged the inside of a cell by smearing feces and blood on the walls and floor.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Some players such as wide receiver Davante Adams have tagged Donald on Instagram stories, making what appear to be recruiting pitches.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
9 June 2026
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In addition, the new system routes incoming calls to the closest of the county’s three call centers, switching automatically to another county center if any one should become flooded with calls, and even recruiting nearby counties in the rare event all three county centers are overwhelmed.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Within months the Royal Navy had imposed an embargo on Iranian oil, and officials were laying plans for a secret invasion.—
Andrew Arsan,
The New York Review of Books,
6 June 2026
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As of June 6, Platner stands accused of laying hands on one named woman, and of intimidating behavior against two other women who thus far have not been named.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
Verb
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With the recent expense of the new house, Alysha was worried about taking on another large financial commitment.—
Meghan O'Brien,
NBC news,
7 June 2026
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McCaul also raised alarm about the timing of Pulte taking on the role, which comes just before America 250 celebrations and the 2026 World Cup games.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
7 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Laying on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20on. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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