lie down

verb

lay down; lain down; lying down; lies down

intransitive verb

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
2
: 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

Examples of lie down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Bowman and his allies haven't taken this lying down. Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 24 June 2024 The first signs of heat exhaustion to look out for are when dogs seek out shade and lay down to try and cool off. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 19 June 2024 Other home moments were captured in the Instagram carousel, including the couple’s dog lying down with the Outer Rage actor in bed and Matilda lounging comfortably on a blanket on their couch. Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 25 May 2024 This stiffness can be so severe that even lying down doesn't alleviate it. Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 18 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for lie down 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lie down.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lie down was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near lie down

Cite this Entry

“Lie down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lie%20down. Accessed 9 Jul. 2024.

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