lay on

verb

laid on; laying on; lays on

transitive verb

1

a

: to apply by or as if by spreading on a surface

laying it on thick

b

: provide, arrange

food laid on in abundance

c

: hand out

laid on awards

2

chiefly British : hire

intransitive verb

: attack, beat

Synonyms

• apply
• lay
• spread

Examples of lay on in a Sentence

she lays the butter on so thickly that you hardly taste the bagel

lay on more staff for the busy tourist season in the Lake District

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Video

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

Kids Definition

lay on

verb

: attack entry 1 sense 1, beat