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
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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
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
This Dolphins team need to show fight the rest of this practice and not lay down.
—
Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2025
There was the sheer cost of port to contend with, and the fact that most people, even the very wealthy, did not have the space or the inclination to lay down an entire lifetime’s worth of port.
—Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Fermin laid down his fifth bunt hit of the season in yesterday’s third inning.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Mayer, the former pop idol turned jam-band icon, was at the heart of all of it, laying down one blistering run after another on his guitar and staying on the hunt for cool new ways to bring the music to life.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2025
There was the sheer cost of port to contend with, and the fact that most people, even the very wealthy, did not have the space or the inclination to lay down an entire lifetime’s worth of port.
—Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Fermin laid down his fifth bunt hit of the season in yesterday’s third inning.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Mayer, the former pop idol turned jam-band icon, was at the heart of all of it, laying down one blistering run after another on his guitar and staying on the hunt for cool new ways to bring the music to life.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay down
Verb
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An avenue that is subject to great debate is to use regulatory powers and enact laws that clearly identify what AI makers are supposed to do.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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Mrvan noted the federal infrastructure spending package enacted during the Biden administration included improving internet reliability in rural areas.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Close relatives of the federal official who has accused a Federal Reserve governor of improperly claiming primary residence on two properties have declared the same status on two homes in two different states, public records show.—
Marisa Taylor,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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He was declared dead at the scene, according to Capt.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Cannon-Brookes wouldn’t specify whether Atlassian considered buying Google’s browser.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
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Eufy didn’t specify if the Marwalker will eventually be compatible with other robot vacuums.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After Israel’s total aid blockade began in March, Gazans began staging anti-Hamas protests in the northern part of the strip, calling for the immediate entry of aid and for Hamas to relinquish power.—
Leila Seurat,
Foreign Affairs,
26 Aug. 2025
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More importantly they were shocked and saddened to hear what was happening, so intervened quickly, speaking to staff on the phone to confirm their desire to relinquish ownership of Mochi.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The seven restaurants on the Sick and Shut Down List were allowed to reopen after passing re-inspection.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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But with each passing summer of enormous transfer spending, the chances of turning the boat around fade ever further.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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.—
Matthew Strauss,
Pitchfork,
8 Sep. 2025
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Wall asserts that on Etsy, customers often expect prices in the $20-30 range, leaving you with maybe five dollars in profit.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Mercenaries are defined as soldiers who are contracted by third parties unaffiliated with a nation’s armed forces and motivated primarily by private gain.—
Rebecca Johns,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
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Rivalries that are long in tenure and thick with hatred define college sports in the Deep South, where football is second only to faith in some places.—
Quentin Corpuel,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Here, Ne Zha 2 succeeds wildly; locales such as a heavenly city made entirely of jade and a towering, bamboo-verdant waterfall are rendered with genuinely beautiful texture and detail.—
Derek Robertson,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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All rendered by paleolithic artists using charcoal and red ochre.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 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 9 Sep. 2025.
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