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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Millions of Russian men, unwilling to take on lower-status work, lay down on the couch and took to drink.
—
Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
Second, disassociate from Hamas and other terrorist groups, including Iran, lay down all arms, and come to the table with a plan to live in harmony with Israel.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2025
Hamas fighters who lay down their arms will also be given amnesty and allowed to leave Gaza under the plan.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
If weeds or grass were already growing in the area, lay down some weed barrier fabric or a layer of mulch, cardboard, or newspaper to prevent the weeds from regrowing.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
Second, disassociate from Hamas and other terrorist groups, including Iran, lay down all arms, and come to the table with a plan to live in harmony with Israel.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2025
Hamas fighters who lay down their arms will also be given amnesty and allowed to leave Gaza under the plan.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
If weeds or grass were already growing in the area, lay down some weed barrier fabric or a layer of mulch, cardboard, or newspaper to prevent the weeds from regrowing.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay down
Verb
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Any plan for dividend checks would likely require new legislation passed by Congress, but no solid plans have been enacted.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Jan. 2026
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Now, Loogootee has enacted another special events policy that mirrors several measures in the one that the court struck down.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Then, amid the noise, athletic director Chris McIntosh jolted the fan base by declaring that Fickell would return in 2026 — even as the Badgers sat 2-6 with an offense ranked 134th of 136 nationally.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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To address the challenges at hand, a measured approach is needed, grounded in the basic principle of respect for human rights, as declared by the UN Human Rights Commission at Colombia’s request in July 2023.—
Gustavo Petro,
Time,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The guidelines include changes to alcohol recommendations, no longer specifying appropriate limits for men and women.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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It was not specified whether any weapons were involved in the fight.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As Buffett relinquishes the helm, investors are increasingly focused on what disappears with him.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
1 Jan. 2026
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More typically, the figures in Marshall’s art are haunted by a past that refuses to relinquish its tenacious hold.—
James Meyer,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Idaho has history of laws targeting trans people Over the past several years, the Idaho Legislature and lawmakers across the country have passed a series of bills targeting transgender youth and adults, several of which are now being litigated.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
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Recall that a year prior to Wardlaw passing her hot check, criminal court records confirm her guilty disposition for the crime of skipping out on a wholly different criminal-court appearance, which is a class C misdemeanor.—
Robert Steinbuch,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To review or object to instances where our partners assert a legitimate interest in utilizing your data, please visit our vendors page.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
9 Nov. 2025
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China has undertaken a massive expansion of sites linked to missile production since 2020, bolstering its ability to potentially deter the US military and assert its dominance in the region, a new CNN analysis of satellite images, maps and government notices reveals.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Millennials, typically defined as individuals born between the early 1980s and the mid-1990s, are now at a point in their lives where their generational nostalgia is front and center.—
Saba Hamedy,
NBC news,
7 Nov. 2025
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The next two years will test how well Republicans can walk that line, using Mamdani to define the left without letting Newsom define himself.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This transformation renders the target — the frozen limit — a finite object that a finite computer can handle.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Jan. 2026
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Its three glittering diamonds had a powerful effect on Sophie Rhys-Jones—rendering her speechless.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
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 11 Jan. 2026.
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