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

The current place is making some very nifty rums, and that includes this single-barrel offering, laid down in 2006. —Tony Sachs, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Look to the new moon in Capricorn (Dec. 30) to set intentions around this matter, as this lunation offers a fresh start to lay down a solid foundation. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024

For their first record together in 13 years, Mark Clifford and Sarah Peacock laid down six simmering tracks that layer decaying distortion, sticky drum pads, sonic boom bass, and vocal melodies pinched and pulled into taffy-soft tendrils. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2024

Those relationships, for better or worse, follow the karmic path laid down for me 40-plus years ago. —Ira Silverberg, Vulture, 27 Nov. 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