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
Seven pool noodles full of thousands of friendship bracelets sent from all over the world lie on a couch.
—
Bryan West, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025
However, Curiosity rover's SAM instruments are unable to detect organic molecules larger than dodecane, meaning that the future of Mars-life research could lie on Earth.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 Mar. 2025
Tall and lean, with bright eyes and a mischievous grin that recalled Peter O’Toole in one of his friskier moods, DePlume switched positions to lie on his back on the mat, beneath a partner.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
The Israeli forces made people, including children, lie on the floor, and arrested Zughayer's brother.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lie on/upon
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Bryan West, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025
However, Curiosity rover's SAM instruments are unable to detect organic molecules larger than dodecane, meaning that the future of Mars-life research could lie on Earth.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 Mar. 2025
Tall and lean, with bright eyes and a mischievous grin that recalled Peter O’Toole in one of his friskier moods, DePlume switched positions to lie on his back on the mat, beneath a partner.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
The Israeli forces made people, including children, lie on the floor, and arrested Zughayer's brother.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 6 Mar. 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 5 Apr. 2025.
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