lie down
verb
lay down; lain down; lying down; lies down
1
: to submit meekly or abjectly to defeat, disappointment, or insult
—used chiefly in the phrase take (something) lying down
… if Walker does get the go-ahead to implement his anti-union law, the teachers in Madison aren't going to take it lying down, Matthew says. They may walk out on the job again.—
Matthew Rothschild
Matthew Rothschild2
: to fail to perform or to neglect one's part deliberately
—used chiefly in the phrase lie down on the job
While the Sanitation Department was accused of lying down on the job, the police were accused of harassment …—Walter Thabit
see also lie entry 1 sense 1b
Walter ThabitExamples of lie down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Modern maps lay down stratum after stratum of recommendation.
—Sonya Bennett-Brandt, AFAR Media, 25 June 2025
In another photo featuring the little one, a shirtless Bieber sat on an outside seat while looking at his son lying down in black and white checkered shorts.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 24 June 2025
There’s nothing more annoying than finally lying down in your tent after a long day of hiking and adventuring and hearing everyone else’s conversations all night.
—Emilee Coblentz, Outside Online, 14 June 2025
Most people with a CSF leak have a positional headache that improves when lying down and worsens when standing.
—Danielle Wilhour, The Conversation, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lie down
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Sonya Bennett-Brandt, AFAR Media, 25 June 2025
In another photo featuring the little one, a shirtless Bieber sat on an outside seat while looking at his son lying down in black and white checkered shorts.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 24 June 2025
There’s nothing more annoying than finally lying down in your tent after a long day of hiking and adventuring and hearing everyone else’s conversations all night.
—Emilee Coblentz, Outside Online, 14 June 2025
Most people with a CSF leak have a positional headache that improves when lying down and worsens when standing.
—Danielle Wilhour, The Conversation, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lie down
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lie down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lie%20down. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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