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
The whiskey was laid down in 1978, which Thomas described as a bad time for the Irish whiskey industry given that there were just two distilleries operating at the time—Bushmills and Midleton.
—
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2025
Abdallah Ocalan, the head of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, known as the PKK—a Kurdish militant group affiliated with the YPG that has long fought the Turkish state—called for fighters loyal to him to lay down their weapons and stop waging war against Turkey.
—Robert S. Ford, Foreign Affairs, 5 Mar. 2025
President Donald Trump laid down the hammer on Mexico and Canada Tuesday, hitting the United States’ North American neighbors with 25-percent duties on a range of products and services after a month-long deferral failed to lead to a resolution.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 4 Mar. 2025
Over at the Girlfriends Check-In, the ladies start arriving, and Quad lays down the ground rules: cocktails are a must, and no one can bring up the past.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2025
Abdallah Ocalan, the head of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, known as the PKK—a Kurdish militant group affiliated with the YPG that has long fought the Turkish state—called for fighters loyal to him to lay down their weapons and stop waging war against Turkey.
—Robert S. Ford, Foreign Affairs, 5 Mar. 2025
President Donald Trump laid down the hammer on Mexico and Canada Tuesday, hitting the United States’ North American neighbors with 25-percent duties on a range of products and services after a month-long deferral failed to lead to a resolution.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 4 Mar. 2025
Over at the Girlfriends Check-In, the ladies start arriving, and Quad lays down the ground rules: cocktails are a must, and no one can bring up the past.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay down
Verb
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In Monthly Payments As Repayment System Buckles House Republicans passed a budget plan last month that seeks to extend tax cuts enacted in 2018 and reduce healthcare spending by $880 billion, with Medicaid a probable candidate for cutbacks.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
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On Wednesday, President Donald Trump enacted a new round of tariffs on the raw metals.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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When Lawrence declares the Cowboys as a team that isn’t going to win a Super Bowl in the next few years — Lawrence signed a three-year deal in Seattle — the core of the team is understandably going to take offense to that.—
Saad Yousuf,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
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The department relieved Proctor of duty on July 1, the very same day a mistrial was declared in the Read case.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Unless otherwise specified by the instructions on your liquid masking product, let the paint dry before attempting to remove the liquid masking tape.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Mar. 2025
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While none of that is specified for Medicare or Medicaid, the budget does outline that the House Energy and Commerce Committee would need to make the $880 billion in cuts over the next decade.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Washington relinquished control of the waterway to Panama on December 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
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Fifty-seven children have been relinquished under under safe haven laws in Connecticut since 2001, according to public testimony to the Committee on Children.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As exclusively revealed by The Athletic last week, his deal expires at the end of the season and the club option for a one-year extension has already passed.—
Patrick Boyland,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
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Although the House has already passed a full-year CR, prospects in the Senate (where 60 votes are needed to overcome a filibuster) are uncertain.—
Doug Criscitello,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Alien and Sedition Acts elicited a firestorm of criticism soon after they were passed, including from Jefferson and James Madison, who asserted that states have the right and duty to declare some federal laws unconstitutional.—
Daniel Tichenor,
The Conversation,
17 Mar. 2025
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In August, during an interview at the National Association of Black Journalists conference, Trump falsely asserted that Harris had not identified before as both Black and Indian.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines atmospheric rivers as long, narrow corridors in the atmosphere that carry large amounts of water vapor.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
9 Mar. 2025
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Silversands Grand Anse Modern design and luxe amenities define Silversands Grand Anse, an intimate, upscale collection of 43 rooms and eight villas, complete with a spacious spa and spectacular dining.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Despite this frustrating flaw, the software can render a fairly accurate design for those who want an overhead landscape plan of their garden.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2025
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Private fears become public and Gaines sharply renders the stress of Clay’s twoness.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
8 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to lay down
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Lay vs. Lie
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Cite this Entry
“Lay down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20down. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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