as in piles
to form or arrange parts or pieces of something on top of each other; to form or arrange (something) in layers
The next step in the recipe is to layer the pasta and the sauce in the pan. We layered the fruit with whipped cream and served it with cookies.
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Recent Examples of layers
Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The new Marshmallow Butterfinger layers the signature peanut-buttery crunch with a creamy marshmallow flavor that softens the bite without losing the bar's signature texture.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Oct. 2025
This fall Rag & Bone launches Infuse, a men’s denim collection that layers craftsmanship and innovation to create bold, dimensional shades.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 14 Oct. 2025
Ultimately, Henry layers the traditional romance with a love story between the sisters.
—Karen Ostergren, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
Aged for 11 years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, then finished for over eight months in ex-Caribbean rum barrels, this expression layers Lagavulin’s signature peat smoke with tropical sweetness.
—Brittany Loggins, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2025
The upshot of this contempt is a season that layers hypocrisy as well as sanctimony over the grubby, tedious nihilism that made Dahmer so miserable to watch.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
Cranberry & Eucalyptus Bright and refreshing, this fragrance layers juicy cranberry with calming eucalyptus and a touch of spice.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Sunroom’s Island Gum Drop is a tropical cocktail that layers Malibu, Malibu Banana and Malibu Mango with cranberry and pineapple juice for a sweet, fruit-forward splash of flavor.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
Repeat layers twice more, omitting ricotta on the top layer.
—Verb
Or, go for a cordial, which layers meats, cheese, lettuce and tomato between cheesy bread.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for layers
Noun
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The blackout slashed internet access to a fraction of normal levels on the 13th day of the protests as rights groups, including Amensty International, accused the regime of using lethal force against protesters.—
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What's more, this door alarm features three sensitivity levels and emits a loud, shrill sound that will instantly scare an intruder away.—
Verb
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Blackwood’s absence piles it on with several layers of awful.—
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Then Carol piles everything on her plate into a rough slice of avocado toast, mashing them together in an improvised layer.—
Noun
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The wide-leg silhouette keeps the look current, while belt loops help sell the illusion of real denim.—
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Unlike many royal tiaras which feature sharp geometric spikes of diamonds or uniform loops, the Spencer Tiara has a more natural design known as the garland style.—
Noun
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Reset offers three tiers of rooms, distinguished by their outdoor layouts (all patios feature a firepit, but only some have the outdoor tub), bed size (queen or king), and view (mountain view versus interior-facing).—
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That is the least lucrative of the multiple state retirement tiers and far less generous than the Tier 1 plans.—
Verb
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At the end of lunch, the entire crew scoops their leftover food into a compost bin, and then neatly stacks their containers on top of each others.—
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Instead of playing Tetris with all the food storage containers in your fridge and freezer, invest in a set that stacks nicely.—
Noun
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Abughazaleh has risen to the upper echelons of fundraisers, in part due to a massive social media audience.—
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The most plausible entrant may be a late-season episode of Strictly Come Dancing, which could creep into the lower echelons of the top 10.—
Noun
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To complete the ensemble, braid your hair into two plaits and tie them with baby blue bows at the ends.—
Noun
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Overly Elaborate Pleats Heavy, elaborate pleats can make curtains look stiff and overly formal, which is why designers are favoring simpler, more elegant pleat styles.—
Cite this Entry
“Layers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layers. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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