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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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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lay down
Two innings later, Friedl — who singled and was caught stealing in the first, homered in the second and singled in the fourth before his gaffe — laid down a perfect bunt for a base hit with a runner on, then scored on Elly De La Cruz’s single, giving the Reds a four-run cushion.
—
C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Similarly, his speech about gun violence and racial equity at Charleston, S.C.,’s Mother Emanuel Church laid down the 2020 campaign’s high-water mark for civil rights discourse.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 2 Apr. 2025
Nine suspensions and hefty fines were laid down after a giant brawl broke out between Jackson State and Prairie View A&M during a college baseball game in Texas this past weekend.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 19 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, its dense bristles pick up and lay down makeup products with ease.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Similarly, his speech about gun violence and racial equity at Charleston, S.C.,’s Mother Emanuel Church laid down the 2020 campaign’s high-water mark for civil rights discourse.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 2 Apr. 2025
Nine suspensions and hefty fines were laid down after a giant brawl broke out between Jackson State and Prairie View A&M during a college baseball game in Texas this past weekend.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 19 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, its dense bristles pick up and lay down makeup products with ease.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay down
Verb
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Market conditioned to rally We’ve been conditioned, since 1987, to expect market panics and crashes to be relatively short-lived and reversed by policy actions enacted by both the federal government and the Federal Reserve.—
Ron Insana,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2025
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But these efforts would be fruitless unless states enacted legislation exempting sports betting from their anti-gambling laws.—
Martin Edel,
Sportico.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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South Africa, positioned in East Africa, is one of the world’s poorest and newest countries in the world, having declared independence in July 2011.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
6 Apr. 2025
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Darden declared a quarterly dividend of $1.40 per share.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Markle did not specify which of her pregnancies was followed by postpartum preeclampsia, but the conversation—a glimpse behind the curtain—is an honest and vulnerable one.—
Morgan Fargo,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2025
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The bill also gives the Office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services various requirements, including those to report specified Medicaid data to the Medicaid oversight committee.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 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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Tribeca Membership or 2025 Tribeca Festival passes and ticket packages can be purchased at tribecafilm.com.—
Lauren Coates,
Variety,
6 Apr. 2025
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According to tradition, there are no other direct mourners—husband, parents have all passed—but Mila asks the rabbi to cut her blouse, too.—
David Bezmozgis,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Plaintiffs’ counsel offered a brief rationale in their motion to approve the deal, asserting that the CFP is an affiliated entity of the defendants, which include the NCAA and the quintet of athletic conferences formerly known as the Power Five.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
11 Apr. 2025
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Indeed, numerous Israeli political leaders express sympathy for Palestinians and assert that Israelis can only be secure when Palestinians are free.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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As usual, there are trendy bikinis and swimsuits that always ask for space in our closet, little tops meant to save us from the rising temperatures, and the kind of light floral dresses and skirts that define the season.—
Marilú Almaguer,
Glamour,
2 Apr. 2025
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Wall Street defines a correction as a drop of 10% from a recent high.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s team also provided information that could render these accusations null.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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Yes, in 2025 there is no shortage of digital apps, planners and workspaces to render conventional notebooks obsolete – but a quick visit to any stationery store will prove that there's strong support for the physical versions.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 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 15 Apr. 2025.
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