lay down

verb

laid down; laying down; lays down

transitive verb

1

: to give up : surrender

lay down your arms

2

a

: establish, prescribe

lay down a scale for a map

b

: to assert or command dogmatically

lay down the law

3

a

: store, preserve

laid down a young wine

b

: record

laying down songs for their new album

4

a

: to direct toward a target

lay down a barrage

b

: to hit along the ground

laid down a sacrifice bunt

intransitive verb

nonstandard : to lie down

Synonyms

• constitute
• enact
• legislate
• make
• ordain
• pass

Examples of lay down in a Sentence

the city council promises to lay down new ordinances that will force dog walkers to clean up after their animals

at the risk of their popularity, the parents laid down the rules for the party and wouldn't accept any arguments

Recent Examples on the Web

This parenting hack gives us all permission to do playtime laying down. —Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 31 Oct. 2024

Marty Sakata laying down a fresh layer of chalk on the field with a historical chalk liner. —Emilie Ikeda, NBC News, 29 Oct. 2024

The band laid down a familiar melody, but his solo took us on an unexpected journey with bold, unexpected twists. —Ariel Katz, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

This past spring, parent company Walmart laid down the law under no uncertain terms. —Diane Brady, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Video

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

Kids Definition

lay down

verb

1

: establish sense 1, prescribe

lay down standards

2

: to state or declare forcefully

lay down the law