1
as in to enact
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action
the city council promises to lay down new ordinances that will force dog walkers to clean up after their animals
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to declare
to state clearly and strongly
at the risk of their popularity, the parents laid down the rules for the party and wouldn't accept any arguments
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to specify
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly
the supervisor laid down the procedure for a complaint of sexual harassment
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4
as in to relinquish
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress
commanded the surrounded troops to lay down their weapons
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lay down
The Army plans to lay down huge metal plates at least an inch thick over spots in the parade route where the tanks will turn.
—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 22 May 2025
But, the true commercial value is likely to lay down the line, as the club taps into another significant English-speaking market by building a support base.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 May 2025
In the meantime, his attempts to lay down in the water have left internet users in stitches, leading to more than 460 comments on the viral TikTok post already.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
That’s why, a few weeks ago, Matton was out on a job site, digging up a 500-yard driveway and laying down new stone.
—Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 22 May 2025
But, the true commercial value is likely to lay down the line, as the club taps into another significant English-speaking market by building a support base.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 May 2025
In the meantime, his attempts to lay down in the water have left internet users in stitches, leading to more than 460 comments on the viral TikTok post already.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
That’s why, a few weeks ago, Matton was out on a job site, digging up a 500-yard driveway and laying down new stone.
—Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay down
Verb
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However, it wasn’t ultimately enacted by the last Congress.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images House Majority Leader Steve Scalise formally introduced legislation to enact President Donald Trump's $9.4 billion rescissions package on Friday, setting up a floor vote as early as Tuesday.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Hit with what’s been declared one of the deadliest U.S. storms of the 21st century, multiple businesses and restaurants in the area were forced to close their doors, while others had to scale back operations just to stay afloat.—
Chyna Blackmon,
Charlotte Observer,
5 June 2025
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Reeves’ titular character seemingly died in the fourth film; however, the Lionsgate release declared that Wick lives and will return for the fifth installment.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Musk did not specify the context in which Trump is allegedly in the files.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
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The department did not specify exactly how many people were in custody as of Friday afternoon.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Despite bipartisan and nearly unequivocal support for Gypsum Canyon in the intervening four years, Agran has refused to relinquish his goal of completing a veterans cemetery in Irvine.—
Jonathan Horwitz,
Oc Register,
28 May 2025
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Harvard University will relinquish 175-year-old photographs believed to be the earliest taken of enslaved people to a South Carolina museum devoted to African American history as part of a settlement with one of the subjects’ descendants.—
Leah Willingham,
Christian Science Monitor,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Given his skill in possession and ability to pass long, replacing Schar will not be an easy — or cheap — task.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
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What’s actually going to happen Even opponents of the bills believe something is going to pass.—
Liam Dillon,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Verb
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The Biden Department of Education’s fact sheet—which was not a law or a regulation promulgated through agency rule-making—asserted colleges paying athletes for use of their NIL ought to count as athletic financial assistance within the meaning of Title IX.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
9 June 2025
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After a shock-and-awe run of asserting executive power — much of it now tied up in the courts — Trump’s full attention is now on the Capitol, where lawmaking is in short supply this year.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Clean lines, classic shapes and unexpected edges define Jade Ruzzo jewels.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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This was bricolage in the mode of postmodernism, to use a term that Jencks had a leading role in propagating, defining it in multiple competing and overlapping (some would say maddening) ways.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
Verb
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In fact, without the ocean as a natural buffer, climate change would have already rendered our planet uninhabitable.—
Jenna DiPaolo,
Sun Sentinel,
1 June 2025
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From Feed Hygiene to Discovery Advantage Unlike traditional search ads that appear alongside blue links, AI search ads will be rendered inside conversational answers themselves.—
Kiri Masters,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20down. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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