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
Relevance
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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The change was prompted by the Porter County Commissioners on April 1 enacting a new standard operating procedure for its Porter County E-911 system.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026 -
The state passed a law last year preempting local governments from enacting or enforcing rules against presidential libraries.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Wright has been a champion of LeBron's accomplishments for quite some time, declaring James the GOAT over Michael Jordan nearly a decade earlier, after the former's improbable Finals win over the Golden State Warriors.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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The network noted that The View had obtained a ruling from the FCC in 2002, declaring that the show was exempt from the equal time rule.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Verb
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In 2024, voters approved Proposition 130, requiring that the state direct $350 million to law enforcement, without specifying where the money should come from.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
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The employees asked Döpfner to take a series of measures in response, including adding a disclaimer to all op-eds specifying that the author’s views do not represent those of Politico or staff.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And at the counter, where chef and guest are separated by little more than a stretch of the hand, everything rests on precision, presence and the quiet thrill of relinquishing control to the chef’s capable hands.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
10 May 2026
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The Monarchs went 8-1 in league play before relinquishing the district title.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The Broncos have revamped their passing offense this offseason after the acquisition of Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
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The two scores gave Dorofeyev nine for the playoffs, passing Howden for the league lead.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The law allows a President to exclude personal records, sets out timetables for releasing documents once the President has left office, and provides a mechanism for asserting executive privilege to keep certain material secret.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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Jokic stuck up for Adelman after the season-ending loss, asserting that the outcome wasn’t his fault.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The slice in your hand has a city of origin, a specific oven, a defining cheese and usually a stubborn local who will tell you everyone else is doing it wrong.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
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Maika Monroe may have starred in multiple defining horror films of the last 10-plus years, from her breakout in It Follows to the recent box-office smash Longlegs, but no amount of scream-queen credits could prepare her for the gory terror of Victorian Psycho.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The Braves wound up in last place that season, and Schuerholz arrived in October as the Braves’ new GM, rendering Cox a full-time manager again.—
Mark Bradley for the AJC,
AJC.com,
9 May 2026
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Instead, the interstellar medium is dominated by gas, and mostly hydrogen gas at that, but in the warmer, more diffuse regions of space, that gas becomes ionized, rendering it into a plasma.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
8 May 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 16 May. 2026.
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