1
as in enacting
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 declaring
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in specifying
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 relinquishing
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying down
Verb
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Kentner said this was the third citizen initiative put on the ballot in Lakewood in the past decade, a sign the city needs to do a better job talking to its 156,000 residents before enacting big changes to land-use policy.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
8 Apr. 2026 -
Morelle said the purpose of the hearings — another is scheduled for later this week in San Francisco — is to hear from election and voting rights experts and to build a roadmap for enacting election reforms after the midterms if Democrats regain control of the House.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The parties’ prospects for reaching an agreement — and what Trump’s options become for declaring success — will depend on how the ceasefire goes in the coming days, Harrison said.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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In Asia, looming fuel shortages are prompting governments to take drastic measures, with the Philippines declaring a national energy emergency.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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OpenAI’s paper conspicuously avoids specifying a corporate tax rate, a diplomatic omission that suggests the company knows where the political land mines are buried.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
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An Amazon Web Services (AWS) spokesperson said the disruption was ongoing, without specifying the exact location affected or any potential damage done.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While the company is seen as relinquishing its multi-year lead on the technology, former Apple insiders said there's still hope.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
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The United States has offered Iran a 15-point proposal for a ceasefire that includes it relinquishing control of the strait, but at the same time has ordered thousands more troops to the region — possibly in preparation for a military attempt to wrest the waterway from Iran.—
David Rising,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Adebayo entered 68 rebounds from passing Udonis Haslem for the franchise all-time lead, now with two games remaining this regular season.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Apr. 2026
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The horse then runs into traffic, where it is struck by a passing car.—
Nick Sullivan
April 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Neighborhoods have been torched for asserting voting rights or attempting to desegregate schools.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
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The memo and other documents referred to Musk multiple times as the head of DOGE, although other parts of the government were asserting that same month that Musk was not the person in charge of the department.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The many-years-sober Levinson drew from his experiences as an addict to shape Euphoria, but more important were his edgelord proclivities, which went from shading the story of how these high-schoolers lived to defining it.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
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Long before Tucker Carlson brought great replacement talk into prime time on Fox News, VDARE treated the concept as the defining issue of our time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Carlton Fisk didn’t retire with the Red Sox, who infamously quote-unquote accidentally mailed his contract a day late, rendering him a free agent.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
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Officers immediately began rendering aid until the man was taken to a hospital.—
Bryant Reed,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Laying down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20down. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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