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
Translated from Chulym, the group’s name signifies a sacred place where warriors lay down their weapons and communicate diplomatically.
—
Sofia Goldstein,
SPIN,
16 June 2026
To prevent weeds, lay down cardboard before adding soil.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
13 June 2026
Often, homeowners and contractors lay down a weed-blocking fabric, and then use just enough rock product to cover it.
—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 June 2026
SkyCal was overhead when the suspect pulled over near Dorchester Avenue and Norwich Avenue, promptly exited the car with their hands raised and lay down on a driveway in the area.
—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Sofia Goldstein,
SPIN,
16 June 2026
To prevent weeds, lay down cardboard before adding soil.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
13 June 2026
Often, homeowners and contractors lay down a weed-blocking fabric, and then use just enough rock product to cover it.
—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 June 2026
SkyCal was overhead when the suspect pulled over near Dorchester Avenue and Norwich Avenue, promptly exited the car with their hands raised and lay down on a driveway in the area.
—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay down
Verb
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Greenspan was also criticized for enacting policies that contributed to the subprime mortgage crisis that led to the recession at the end of the 2000s.
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After the collapse, state legislators enacted a law in 2022 requiring condo associations to have sufficient reserves to cover major repairs.
Verb
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Staghorn coral are in peril and were declared functionally extinct in Florida in 2025 by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Watch.
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But it was finally declared victorious after yearslong court battles.
Verb
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Ablakwa did not specify the specific types of artifacts, nor where they are currently being held.
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There is no difference specified under the law.
Verb
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Willow Nightingale relinquished the championship in May due to a shoulder injury that also forced her out of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, leading AEW to create this match to crown a new champion.
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But for Iran, reopening the strait does not mean relinquishing control of it.
Verb
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The council would then examine the details surrounding the change before passing an ordinance expanding those voting rights.
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Congress passed a law making Independence Day a federal holiday on June 28, 1870.
Verb
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Kavanaugh could have limited his separate opinion to asserting that Trump’s order couldn’t override a federal law, which was all that was needed to decide the case.
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Lawyers in the gas station lawsuit assert that technology is enabling antitrust violations.
Verb
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Victor Willis, Village People’s lead singer, dies Victor Willis, lead singer of the Village People who helped define the disco movement of the 1970s, died June 30.
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Instead of looking only for escapements or technical innovation, Newman encourages appreciation of cases, dials, proportions, engraving, and overall design—the same qualities that define today’s most desirable independent watches.
Verb
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About 11,000 light-years away from Earth, the supernova Cassiopeia A’s X-rays (seen above) are rendered in blue and purple, while infrared wavelengths are shown in red and white using data from JWST.
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Still, Twain squandered his own fortune and Livy’s inheritance on developing Paige’s invention, even as the Mergenthaler Linotype became the industry standard, rendering Paige’s machine worthless.
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 5 Jul. 2026.
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