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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But for Iran, reopening the strait does not mean relinquishing control of it.
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Neusch relinquished fire control to the bio-andy’s tactical routines.
Verb
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Then the youngest of the trio, the front-seat passenger, whom Shahsavani believed was closer to 10, joined the duo in sitting on the window opening as the vehicle passed Stewart Street.
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The legislation — a major priority for both Republicans and Democrats ahead of this fall's midterm elections — passed overwhelmingly, with a final tally of 358-32.
Verb
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Car show winners The winner of Best in Show at the fourth annual Historic Downtown Campbell Car Show, held June 6, may seem somewhat underwhelming, but organizers assert that Michael Vanni’s 1964 Chevy Nova has serious street cred.
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That came after the start of talks between the two countries had been delayed while both sides also sought to assert influence over the strait.
Verb
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As a coastal town shaped by generations of immigrants, Half Moon Bay now has a new art display that serves as a reminder of the people and stories that continue to define the community.
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In the absence of an official investigation, the incident last September has been magnified, and perhaps embellished, in the minds of veterans living on the campus, a community defined by the vulnerability of physical disability, substance use and trauma.
Verb
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Issues like slow image rendering on mobile devices or videos failing to auto-crop correctly—such as losing the subject when switching between portrait and landscape views—are often perceived as minor.
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Faux snakeskin takes the place of the woven Kevlar panel that usually defines the model, while the long mudguard beneath is rendered in black nubuck.
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 30 Jun. 2026.
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