The antonyms for the word "laying upon" are the words "taking off", "removing", and "clearing". Instead of placing something on top of a surface, these words refer to the act of removing something from that surface. For example, if one were to lay a book upon a table, the antonym would be to take the book off of the table. Similarly, if someone were to lay a burden upon another person, removing or clearing that burden would be the opposite action. These antonyms reflect the opposite action of placing something upon a surface or person, emphasizing the importance of considering not only what we do, but what we undo.