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

• constitute
• enact
• legislate
• make
• ordain
• 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

The new facility, equipped with cutting-edge technology and complying with Europe's most rigorous safety rules laid down in the relevant legislation, in particular ICPE 1510, is poised to provide a competitive advantage for Vision Marine in the rapidly growing electric boat market. —Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024

The video stitches together shots of Dua laying down vocals, writing lyrics in a notebook and jamming out to inaudible beats. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2024

The Colorado Rockies have never believed in blowing the team up to rebuild with draft picks and prospects, despite a blueprint laid down by recent worst-to-firsts Houston, the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore and NL West rival Arizona. —Jack Magruder, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2024

Dreams From My Father, his first memoir, drew from a humanist tradition of American autobiography laid down by Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, Malcolm X, and James Baldwin. —Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2024

That means laying down many more power lines made up of aluminum and copper and reinforced with steel. —Justine Calma, The Verge, 25 Mar. 2024

They were also laid down as tips at Liam’s, a local restaurant that fills up with crew members and celebrities alike. —Matt Stevens, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024

When that scaffolding is abnormal, those bricks can't lay down well – hence the weak bones. —David Oliver, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024

Adopted in 1878, the Northwest Ordinance — drawn up from principles laid down earlier by Thomas Jefferson — set up governing structures for what was then the Northwest Territory, including the later states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota. —Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

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