lie on/upon
phrasal verb
lay on/upon; lain on/upon; lying on/upon; lies on/upon
: to affect (someone) in a specified way
Sorrow lay heavily on him.
Guilt lies on his conscience.
She keeps herself healthy so her years lie lightly upon her.
Examples of lie on/upon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Don’t let anyone persuade you to lie on a form or sign a blank form.
—
Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
Hochman noted that the brothers suborned perjury, trying to get friends to lie on their behalf at the trials.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 10 Mar. 2025
Pensiero branched a handgun, gave the teller with a note demanding money, threatened to kill the teller and other employees and ordered the bank employees to lie on the floor, according to court records.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2025
Poorer coastal countries lack the technology and capital to scoop up manganese nodules and other crucial minerals that lie on the sea floor.
—Jorge G. CastaÑeda, Foreign Affairs, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lie on/upon
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Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
Hochman noted that the brothers suborned perjury, trying to get friends to lie on their behalf at the trials.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 10 Mar. 2025
Pensiero branched a handgun, gave the teller with a note demanding money, threatened to kill the teller and other employees and ordered the bank employees to lie on the floor, according to court records.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2025
Poorer coastal countries lack the technology and capital to scoop up manganese nodules and other crucial minerals that lie on the sea floor.
—Jorge G. CastaÑeda, Foreign Affairs, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lie on/upon
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lie on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lie%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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