lay down

verb

laid down; laying down; lays down

transitive verb

1

: to give up : surrender

lay down your arms

2

a

: establish, prescribe

lay down a scale for a map

b

: to assert or command dogmatically

lay down the law

3

a

: store, preserve

laid down a young wine

b

: record

laying down songs for their new album

4

a

: to direct toward a target

lay down a barrage

b

: to hit along the ground

laid down a sacrifice bunt

intransitive verb

nonstandard : to lie down

Synonyms

• enact
• pass

Examples of lay down in a Sentence

the city council promises to lay down new ordinances that will force dog walkers to clean up after their animals

at the risk of their popularity, the parents laid down the rules for the party and wouldn't accept any arguments

Recent Examples on the Web

Mother and daughter butted heads, especially when Trina Frierson started laying down house rules, and Kenishea Frierson, used to setting her own rules, pushed back hard. —Brad Schmitt, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025

Tan carpet, quarter-inch, laid down right onto the concrete. —Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025

Pressure to release the hostages, pressure to lay down its arms, and pressure to surrender control over Gaza’s future. —Benjamin Sharoni, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025

Jess shows everyone the photo: Martine is laying down on the bathroom floor and Kyle’s kilt is still on. —Emma Soren, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for lay down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Video

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

Kids Definition

lay down

verb

1

: establish sense 1, prescribe

lay down standards

2

: to state or declare forcefully

lay down the law