lay on
Britishverb
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to provide or supply
to lay on entertainment
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to install
to lay on electricity
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informal
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to exaggerate, esp when flattering
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to charge an exorbitant price
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to punish or strike harshly
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Cover with, apply; also, use. For example, He decided to lay on a second coat of primer , or She laid on a thick Southern accent . [c. 1600] Also see lay it on thick .
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Inflict blows, attack, as in “Lay on, Macduff; and damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!'” (Shakespeare, Macbeth, 5:8 ). [Early 1200s]
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Impose or cast something on someone, as in The government laid a tax on landholders , or Dad had a way of laying the guilt for his shortcomings on his partners . This usage is also found in , as in Nancy could always find someone to lay the blame on , or Jerry put the blame on Bill . [1300s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Many lay on the bare pavements from the early morning to get a better spot.
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026
Hama lay on the outskirts of these cultural hubs.
From Science Daily • May 5, 2026
It lay on the medieval spice route between Asia, the Middle East and Europe, and its strategic position made it a target for colonial occupation, most importantly by Italy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
He survived but lay on the ground for about half an hour, holding a phone that was unable to call for help.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
He breathed out, and ever so slowly pushed the door open, trying to catch a glimpse of what lay on the other side in case someone was waiting for them.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
