lay down
verb
laid down; laying down; lays down
1
: to give up : surrender
lay down your arms
2
4
a
: to direct toward a target
lay down a barrage
b
: to hit along the ground
laid down a sacrifice bunt
nonstandard
: to lie down
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
The winner of the Godolphin Mile in April in Dubai broke on top and laid down modest fractions through the start of the race, leaving him plenty of gas for the race’s finish.
—
John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025
In a May 2022 op-ed in the New York Times, Felix laid down the gauntlet with Nike, exposing the fractious negotiations over an extension of her endorsement contract with the company.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 5 June 2025
Some of them are familiar to us: all the hostages come home, Hamas lays down its arms, and Gaza is disarmed.
—Steve Inskeep, NPR, 4 June 2025
The 6-foot-2, 202-pound safety has the size and physicality to lay down the law near the line of scrimmage, and that could help the defensive play-caller, Evero, mix and match his personnel looks before the snap.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
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John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025
In a May 2022 op-ed in the New York Times, Felix laid down the gauntlet with Nike, exposing the fractious negotiations over an extension of her endorsement contract with the company.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 5 June 2025
Some of them are familiar to us: all the hostages come home, Hamas lays down its arms, and Gaza is disarmed.
—Steve Inskeep, NPR, 4 June 2025
The 6-foot-2, 202-pound safety has the size and physicality to lay down the law near the line of scrimmage, and that could help the defensive play-caller, Evero, mix and match his personnel looks before the snap.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lay%20down. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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