lay down

verb

laid down; laying down; lays down
Synonyms of lay downnext

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

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 Radiohead haven’t released an album since 2016, but the band’s frontman, Thom Yorke, has been on an extraordinary run of studio creativity lately, laying down three great albums with the Smile, his band with Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and jazz drummer Tom Skinner. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2025 In long summer days, my friends and I could leave the house with peanut butter and jelly or bologna sandwiches in the baskets of our bicycles, and the only restriction laid down was to be home for dinner or before dark, whichever came first. — Linda Chapin, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2025 However, that didn’t stop her co-workers and peers from laying down the firm glare of judgment. — Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lay down

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of lay down was in the 13th century

Rhymes for lay down

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Browse Nearby Words

lay down
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Cite this Entry

“Lay down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lay%20down. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

lay down

verb
1
: establish sense 1, prescribe
lay down standards
2
: to state or declare forcefully
lay down the law

More from Merriam-Webster on lay down

Nglish: Translation of lay down for Spanish Speakers

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