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
In particular, people who are pregnant and no longer able to safely lie on their belly should avoid it, as well as folks who’ve recently gotten abdominal surgery, Dr. Haas says.
—
Christa Sgobba, SELF, 17 Dec. 2024
Winter temperatures, of course, will require adequate clothing, and hardcore stargazers might also bring something to lie on to get the best view of the night sky, such as a sleeping bag or blanket.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024
Though the true Outer Banks lie on the coast of North Carolina, including coastal communities like Dare County and Kill Devil Hills, Outer Banks has primarily shot in Charleston, S.C., as well as Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, a town eight miles east of Charleston.
—Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 11 Oct. 2024
Bullets lie on the sidewalk at the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
—Ellen Moynihan, Twin Cities, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lie on/upon 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Christa Sgobba, SELF, 17 Dec. 2024
Winter temperatures, of course, will require adequate clothing, and hardcore stargazers might also bring something to lie on to get the best view of the night sky, such as a sleeping bag or blanket.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024
Though the true Outer Banks lie on the coast of North Carolina, including coastal communities like Dare County and Kill Devil Hills, Outer Banks has primarily shot in Charleston, S.C., as well as Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, a town eight miles east of Charleston.
—Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 11 Oct. 2024
Bullets lie on the sidewalk at the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
—Ellen Moynihan, Twin Cities, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lie on/upon
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Dictionary Entries Near lie on/upon
Cite this Entry
“Lie on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lie%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 3 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share