1
as in to enact
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to declare
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to specify
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly
the supervisor laid down the procedure for a complaint of sexual harassment
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4
as in to relinquish
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress
commanded the surrounded troops to lay down their weapons
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lay down
Other alternatives to spraying include laying down cardboard or dark plastic to suffocate weeds, though this can take weeks to kill off weeds.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2025
The ceasefire was an attempt to get both sides to lay down their arms so that further negotiations on issues like territory, occupation status, the return of prisoners and the return of abducted Ukrainian children could then be hashed out.
—Caitlin McFall, Fox News, 13 Mar. 2025
Others are staying vague, hoping this sorts itself out without laying down hard markers.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 12 Mar. 2025
David Sanborn’s alto wails through the title track like an exorcism, while Carlos Alomar lays down the kind of liquid guitar groove that would define Bowie’s next few years.
—Darryn King, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2025
The ceasefire was an attempt to get both sides to lay down their arms so that further negotiations on issues like territory, occupation status, the return of prisoners and the return of abducted Ukrainian children could then be hashed out.
—Caitlin McFall, Fox News, 13 Mar. 2025
Others are staying vague, hoping this sorts itself out without laying down hard markers.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 12 Mar. 2025
David Sanborn’s alto wails through the title track like an exorcism, while Carlos Alomar lays down the kind of liquid guitar groove that would define Bowie’s next few years.
—Darryn King, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay down
Verb
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One of the underlying actuarial assumptions of Social Security when it was enacted, apparently, was that the government wouldn’t be paying a whole lot of money to a whole lot of retirees.—
Eli Amdur,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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Illinois, California and Minnesota have enacted laws protecting the earnings of young creators, and Minnesota's law includes a similar provision to Utah's that allows content featuring minors to be taken down.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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After an over 80-year run reigning supreme as one of the top one-stop-shop destinations for all things arts and crafts, Joann—previously Jo-Ann Fabrics—has officially declared the closing of all retail locations across the United States.—
Elizabeth Grace Coyne,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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South Carolina wildfires Wildfires extended into neighboring South Carolina, prompting Gov. Henry McMaster to declare a state of emergency on Saturday.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The agency specified that the event will occur before sunrise, and the times provided are when the sun rises.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2025
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The dog-walk area was not specified in our purchase agreement, but we were all informed verbally of the same information.—
Gary Singer,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Hamas does not tolerate dissent and will not relinquish power easily.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
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Israel says the war won’t end until Hamas relinquishes power and releases the remaining 59 hostages taken on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel from Gaza.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Background Congress passed the CTA after years of discussion over the problems created by anonymous shell companies, including money laundering and drug trafficking.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
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Abdullah will tell you that everyone passed — all of the networks and all the streamers, including Hulu, passed.—
Isha Sharma,
Rolling Stone,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Her attorneys on Friday asked a federal court in Massachusetts to assert jurisdiction over her case, release her on bail as the litigation moves forward and restore her F-1 student visa.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2025
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Congress's failure to assert its institutional will damages Democrats when Republicans hold the presidency and Republicans when Democrats hold it.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Sample said constitutional scholars have differed on what exactly defines a constitutional crisis.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2025
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And Christian Nationalism – the belief that the United States is defined by Christianity – has grown.—
Fred L. Pincus,
The Conversation,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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That renders every emotional moment (what made the original Lion King so terrific) utterly lifeless.—
Barry Levitt,
TIME,
21 Mar. 2025
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There is no reason to say that the current challenges render AI’s implementation impossible.—
William Tarr,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20down. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
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