1
as in to spread
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 to employ
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 lay on
Verb
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Large media accounts like Pop Crave and Pop Base spread the incident to millions of followers on X, and social media posts have reported that the Astronomer CEO is the man in the video.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
19 July 2025 -
Controlling a fire means ensuring that the fire can't spread or cross the containment line.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
19 July 2025
Verb
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The outlets reported that Robinson was employed as a security guard.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
15 July 2025
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University policy allows the Office of Institutional Equity to close investigations when a subject is no longer employed there.—
Grace Gilson,
Sun Sentinel,
15 July 2025
Verb
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The age at which the earnings test no longer applies has changed as well.—
Liz Weston,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 July 2025
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Complexity Classes In 1996, the time came for Williams to apply to colleges.—
Ben Brubaker,
Wired News,
13 July 2025
Verb
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To produce these communications, the House also hired a video producer at $115,000 a year, according to public records.—
Mary Jo Pitzl,
AZCentral.com,
13 July 2025
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The Sisters of Bon Secours – the nuns who ran the home from 1925 to 1961 – hired a consulting company that denied a mass grave altogether, saying there was no evidence children had been buried there.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
13 July 2025
Verb
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The physical attributes that helped these women get recruited likely led to their low rates of maternal mortality.—
Ann Foster,
JSTOR Daily,
9 July 2025
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And Musk ‒ despised by many on the left and now seemingly a Trump foe ‒ would need to recruit candidates to a party that lacks a clear agenda.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
9 July 2025
Verb
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Blood appeared to be smeared across the woman’s nose and mouth and across the sheets, according to court documents.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
26 June 2025
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In the video, Adira takes a special liking to the lipstick, smearing it all over her own mouth and chin, while Olympia seemed to be taking her mom’s notes on how to perfect a makeup look.—
Rachel McRady,
People.com,
18 June 2025
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Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20on. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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