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
As Lebanon reels from an ongoing cross-border conflict with Israel and years of economic meltdown, Hezbollah may also face pressure from its own constituency to lay down its arms, Woods said.
—
Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
Listen up students, Professor Coogler is present for class and ready to lay down some knowledge.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2025
Japan's sovereignty extends to the airspace over its territorial sea that measures 12 nautical miles (13.8 miles) from its coastline, says the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which lays down a regime of law and order in the world's oceans and seas.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
This explains Microsoft aggressively laying down an AI foundation with Copilot (and, by the way, investing heavily in data with offerings like Microsoft Fabric).
—Jason Andersen, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
Listen up students, Professor Coogler is present for class and ready to lay down some knowledge.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2025
Japan's sovereignty extends to the airspace over its territorial sea that measures 12 nautical miles (13.8 miles) from its coastline, says the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which lays down a regime of law and order in the world's oceans and seas.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
This explains Microsoft aggressively laying down an AI foundation with Copilot (and, by the way, investing heavily in data with offerings like Microsoft Fabric).
—Jason Andersen, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay down
Verb
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Republicans are hoping to raise the nation’s borrowing limit, which caps how much money the Treasury Department can owe to pay the country’s bills, by up to $5 trillion this year as part of a larger package to extend expiring tax cuts enacted through Trump’s signature 2017 tax law.—
Aris Folley,
The Hill,
18 Apr. 2025
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The Florida Sheriff's Association announced in February that all county jails had signed agreements in compliance with a state law enacted in 2022.—
Julia Ingram,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Xi Jinping has declared unification inevitable—by force if necessary.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
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Authorities declared an emergency when the incident started around 8:30 a.m.—
Elaine Mallon,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In her account posted on Wednesday, April 9, the woman — who does not specify her own age — explained that a 17-year-old family member gave birth to her first baby the previous day.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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Additionally, the home includes type not specified.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The New York congresswoman had relinquished her No. 4 leadership slot as House Republican Conference Chair since she had been named Trump’s UN pick, and Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) was elected in her place.—
Emily Brooks,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
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Because these behavioral issues are not dissected, addressed or asked about during vet visits, many people relinquish their dogs to animal shelters.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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On Capitol Hill, details are still under wraps as Republican lawmakers this year try to pass a major tax and spending bill that is seen as the primary vehicle for Trump's second-term agenda.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
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These engines, which the team says can carry safe and nontoxic propellant, work by the spacecraft passing an electric current through water to create stores of high-pressure hydrogen and oxygen.—
Monisha Ravisetti,
Space.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Thirteen judges already fired since Trump started his second term filed a class appeal earlier this month, asserting that they had been wrongfully terminated.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
22 Apr. 2025
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Read has pleaded not guilty, denied killing O'Keefe and alleged she is being framed, attempting to sow reasonable doubt in prosecutors' claims and asserting that someone else killed O'Keefe and had ties to and influence over the investigation.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This translates into Jan having to collaborate with many versions of himself that have unique skills and far too many conflicting personalities defined by past events.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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Strategic decisions made now, around technology investments, partnerships, and customer education, could determine whether a bank remains competitive in a world increasingly defined by digital currency frameworks. 5.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Today, digital cameras have rendered round-the-clock observations of the night sky both practical and affordable.—
Patrick M. Shober,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2025
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The Alliance would seek to deter and defeat offensive space capabilities, condemn any attempts to render space unusable in international fora, and impose tangible violations that include sanctions—from export controls on the low end to military action on the high end.—
Andrew Hanna,
Time,
13 Apr. 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 27 Apr. 2025.
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