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 Church’s task is no longer these days that of the lawmaker, laying down is right and good. —Austen Ivereigh, Time, 21 Apr. 2025

Then the Trump administration has to follow the law as laid down by the courts. —Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2025

During rare family reunions that my niece is enjoying, her wife will get a sudden stomachache, and there goes my niece, to lay down with her in a quiet room. —Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2025

In February, imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan called on his supporters to lay down their arms. —Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 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