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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying down
Verb
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Other countries, meanwhile, are enacting new laws to limit social media for children.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026 -
The Los Angeles Times has carried out multiple rounds of layoffs in recent years, most recently enacting another 6% reduction to its newsroom in mid-2025.—
Suzy Khimm,
NBC news,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Wills must be in writing, not oral, so recording a voice memo into your phone or making a post declaring your intentions on social media won’t count.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
-
In October, the Air District lowered the threshold of fine particulate matter for declaring Spare the Air alerts from 35 to 25 micrograms per cubic meter.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Entire chapters specifying how nuclear material should be secured and what sorts of physical barriers should be built to protect it have been reduced to bullet points.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Include your name, phone number and email address specifying February Writing Workshop.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Buffalo Bills lasted seven weeks in the pole position before relinquishing the title to the Kansas City Chiefs.—
Scott Phillips,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Hamas has shown no signs of relinquishing power or its weapons.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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At 37 years old, Stafford led the NFL in both passing yards (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46), while recording a career-low eight interceptions.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Attempting to break an Eastern Washington University receiving record is like trying to set a franchise passing mark with the Patriots.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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William is asserting himself as the architect of a stricter, more disciplined royal model.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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But recent reporting describes ICE asserting broader authority through internal guidance.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Period hairstyles also play a significant role in defining the characters of Elvira and Agnes, aka Cinderella, played by Thea Sofie Loch Naess.—
Simon Thompson,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
-
And isn’t that about to become the defining ingredient of all future Hall of Fame voting, sooner than later?—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In pushing for cuts, he could be outvoted, rendering himself the functional equivalent of a potted plant.—
Steve Chapman,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
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The move from Royal Lodge follows Charles stripping his brother of all of his royal titles and privileges back in October, rendering him a commoner.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
4 Feb. 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 14 Feb. 2026.
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