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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lay down
Then my sister lay down next to me.
—
NPR, 26 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for lay down
NPR, 26 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay down
Verb
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Maryland has enacted a nearly identical law.—
Jeffrey S. Trimbath,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Braun enacted the holiday via emergency declaration — an unusual step — but one that delivers immediate relief at the pump.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the mid-seventies, Vince drove McMahon, who was pregnant with Stephanie, to a courthouse to declare bankruptcy.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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On Friday, Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz fully open to commercial traffic, sending crude prices tumbling more than 10%.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Paramedics took four people to the hospital after the crash, but department officials did not specify which vehicles the victims were in.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
20 Apr. 2026
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The traffic code was appropriately amended to specify maximum speeds.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Min Aung Hlaing, who had attained the rank of senior general, last week relinquished his post of commander-in-chief because the constitution prohibits the president from simultaneously holding the top military position.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
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Mostly because this lesson required me to relinquish my take-home treats.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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No team allowed more points or passing yards than the Cowboys in 2025.—
Dan Zaksheske,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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Virginia lawmakers endorsed a constitutional amendment allowing their mid-decade redistricting last fall, then passed it again in January as part of a two-step process that requires an intervening election for an amendment to be placed on the ballot.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Some young men, eager to assert their Americanness, answered yes to both questions and volunteered for military service; members of the all-Japanese 442nd Regimental Combat Team quickly became war heroes.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Rather than opening the Strait of Hormuz, the critical commercial waterway that before the war carried 20% of the world’s oil, both sides have sought to assert more control over the area.—
Justin Fishel,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Pistons have built their success on toughness, grit and defense — the same qualities that once defined the Magic.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Apr. 2026
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Desire defines the work and is impossible to divorce from our response to it.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The two teams were scheduled to play in a rematch Tuesday in Oak Lawn but the game was postponed by a late afternoon storm that rendered the baseball field unplayable.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
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Some of the company's changes have sparked debate, particularly around its use of beef tallow, which is fat rendered from cows.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 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 23 Apr. 2026.
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