lay down

verb

Definition of lay downnext
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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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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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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lay down Each surgery disrupts blood supply to the skin and lays down a new layer of scar tissue, meaning the risks compound with every procedure. — Victoria Oliva, Allure, 23 June 2026 The new method dramatically reduced the setup process, giving them more time to remove the fire pit, lay down the foundation and assemble the pool. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 20 June 2026 For extra flair, grab a floral wreath for a pop of color, or lay down this area rug for a cozy vibe. — Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 20 June 2026 To celebrate, Gazza lay down on the grass and opened his mouth wide, imitating the dentist’s chair that had got him and his team-mates into so much bother a few weeks earlier. — The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lay down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay down
  1. enact
  2. declare
  3. specify
  4. relinquish
  5. pass
  6. assert
  7. define
  8. render
Verb
  • The Farm Recovery and Support Block Grant program hit a number of speed bumps since Congress enacted it in late 2024.
    — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026
  • Nationwide, about 141 municipalities have enacted permanent or temporary bans, according to the city.
    — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 24 July 2026
Definition of enact
Verb
  • Two people were declared dead at the scene and four others, including a 2-year-old boy, were transported to Harborview Medical Center, the fire department said in a statement.
    — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 27 July 2026
  • Gabriel Edwards was declared to have died July 1 after his helicopter ditched in the Arabian Sea.
    — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 26 July 2026
Definition of declare
Verb
  • The other concerns the number of owners controlling on-demand programming services, and that consideration is not currently specified in section 58 of the Act.
    — Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • The city has not specified when this summer the lease will be considered, directing the public to keep checking agendas.
    — Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 July 2026
Definition of specify
Verb
  • Going down the cap-room road, however, would require Atlanta to relinquish Dort, CJ McCollum and Jock Landale after the season.
    — John Hollinger, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • In 2021, the unnamed collector who bought them voluntarily relinquished for repatriation nearly three dozen Cambodian and Southeast Asian antiquities purchased from Latchford between 2003 and 2007.
    — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Definition of relinquish
Verb
  • The most significant injury of training camp was a doozy and came on the very first day, when second-year pass rusher Nic Scourton tore up his knee July 23 and was soon declared out for the season.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
  • ChatGPT passed 900 million weekly users in February and, by most trackers, crossed a billion monthly users around the middle of this year.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of pass
Verb
  • For Lynnette Grey Bull, who is Northern Arapaho and Hunkpapa Lakota, returning to Colorado is less about reclaiming the past than about asserting the present.
    — Anna Alejo, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • In addition, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has repeatedly asserted that inflation needs to be lower to hit the FOMC’s targets, perhaps implying a need for higher interest rates to achieve that.
    — Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of assert
Verb
  • Unlike ancient Roman baths that relied on standing pools, Ottoman hammam architecture is defined by fresh, continuous flowing water across heated stone slabs (göbek taşı).
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • This season, though, will be defined by the head coach’s offseason evaluation of, well, himself.
    — Sam McDowell July 31, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
Definition of define
Verb
  • And that Grayson discouraged his fellow deputy from rendering aid.
    — Jerry Nowicki, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Countless vigilantes have taken to the roadways armed with trash bags, spray paint, laser pointers, and power drills to render the surveillance poles useless, resulting in arrests and investigations by police.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 30 July 2026
Definition of render

Browse Nearby Words

lay by
lay down
layer
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Cite this Entry

“Lay down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20down. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of lay down for Spanish Speakers

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