1
as in enacts
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 declares
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 specifies
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 relinquishes
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 lays down
Verb
-
Even if Florida enacts a GOP-friendlier map in a special legislative session set for April 28, the worst possible outcome from the redistricting fight now looks like a national dead heat.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026 -
The Attorney General enacts California’s laws and can bring litigation against companies or the federal government on behalf of state residents.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The fiber-optic race is on in Lake County, or so declares at least one internet service provider building in the county, with the region proving a popular market that has seen a growing need for broadband internet.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The judgment declares that the mother is not essential to parenthood.—
Eana Kim,
ARTnews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The commission also specifies that these tools must be made available free of charge.—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Senga’s $75 million, five-year contract, which runs through the 2027 season, specifies the pitcher cannot be assigned to the minor leagues without his consent.—
Ronald Blum,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Could this be the anarchic mind that emerges when the ego relinquishes its hold?—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
If a player chooses not to negotiate with the Panthers, that player will be unable to sign elsewhere, unless Carolina relinquishes his rights by not offering him a tender.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As a result, when Earth passes through the comet’s orbit, the comet itself is very far away.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
-
The Salmon River Scenic Byway passes through some of Idaho’s most remote regions.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
In the months before that change, Sun asserts, its management had been trying to pressure him into investing more in WLF.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The filing Monday asserts that a shot was heard after Allen, who was outfitted with a shotgun, handgun and several knives, ran through a metal detector.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What defines Canneseries today?—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Long hours remain one of the biggest and most measurable culprits, with the report saying 35% of workers globally work more than 48 hours a week—occupational-health research often defines long working hours as 55 hours or more a week.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On their surface, removal hearings can look like bench trials, where a judge — not a jury — hears evidence and renders a verdict.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
-
Every chat with Claude or GPT runs on the same underlying machinery that calculates spreadsheet totals and renders video games—silicon wafers etched with billions of microscopic switches, organized into specialized processors.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
1 May 2026
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
“Lays down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lays%20down. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
