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
-
California made history Wednesday by enacting the first law in the United States to define and ultimately ban unhealthy ultraprocessed foods, or UPFs, from meals served to over one billion California schoolchildren annually.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025 -
The organization states that 30,000 residents of Amsterdam have already signed a petition in favor of enacting concrete plans and policies to limit mass tourism.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
DeWine imposed a 90-day ban on intoxicating hemp by declaring a consumer product emergency.—
Jessie Balmert,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The American withdrawal from Iraq in 2011 created the vacuum into which Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi marched, declaring a caliphate and seizing territory the size of Britain.—
Aviva Klompas,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Approximately 50 soldiers guarding the vehicles attempted to repel the attackers, presidential spokesperson Carolina Jaramillo said, without specifying whether anyone was injured.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Instead, Mason suggests specifying the purpose and time frame of your request.—
Sophie Caldwell,
CNBC,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Liberation lies in relinquishing projection, in surrendering the desire for children to mirror our priorities and accomplishments.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Oct. 2025
-
In the meantime, Kraft can leave more money behind for his extended family, approximately $740 million, without relinquishing control of the team.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Just as Erik ten Hag told David de Gea to kick the ball long for the visit of Liverpool in August 2022 after losing his opening two games in charge, Amorim instructed Senne Lammens, on his debut, to not risk an easy concession by passing possession short.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Sanchez led college football in passing yards and touchdown passes while a quarterback at the University of Southern California from 2006 to 2008.—
Alysa Guffey,
Indianapolis Star,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Maybe so—and a coming wave of insider stories attesting to Weiss’s difficulties in asserting her authority strikes me as the most inevitable outcome of this affair.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The 20-year-old crucially broke Anisimova’s serve in the opening game of the second set after asserting more aggressive play.—
Frank Nunns O'Connell,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Bubble hems returned across skirts, pants and jackets, proving the detail can feel sharp and modern when well executed, while skirts in every form — sharp and structured, flowing and asymmetric — emerged as the defining piece of spring 2026.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
-
This absence of shame is a defining generational factor.—
Glynnis MacNicol,
Flow Space,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
What about the Black artist who, like countless artists before, has his own reasons for rendering nature?—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
-
After allegedly fleeing the scene without rendering aid or calling authorities, the Louisiana native was charged with negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run and reckless operation of a vehicle.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Laying down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20down. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share