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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of lay down
Grande got there and then laid down an UNO reverse.
—
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
When left untreated, the body often reacts by laying down scar tissue around the material.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025
The proper scope of such injunctions has been a recurring issue, and the government’s new filing floats that the Supreme Court could choose to immediately take up the new case to lay down the ground rules for lower judges.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 31 Dec. 2024
His great-grandfather, George Blaney, laid down the foundations, while his grandfather Lou claimed over 600 race victories.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for lay down 
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
When left untreated, the body often reacts by laying down scar tissue around the material.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025
The proper scope of such injunctions has been a recurring issue, and the government’s new filing floats that the Supreme Court could choose to immediately take up the new case to lay down the ground rules for lower judges.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 31 Dec. 2024
His great-grandfather, George Blaney, laid down the foundations, while his grandfather Lou claimed over 600 race victories.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for lay down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay down
Verb
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Suppose the United States eliminates methane rules and/or enacts tariffs.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
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And Trump has seemed emboldened by this boost: His staff and surrogates have claimed a mandate to enact swift and comprehensive legislative change and fundamentally rework the administrative state.—
G. Elliott Morris,
ABC News,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Trump’s election and the activism of conservative investors have many experts declaring that DEI is dead.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes,
12 Jan. 2025
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Decades before sanctuary cities became a vigorous partisan debate, Sacramento declared itself as one of the first in America.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacramento Bee,
12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The law does not specify a time frame in which this disclosure should occur.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacramento Bee,
14 Jan. 2025
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In 2023, there was one incident of unruly passenger behavior for every 480 flights compared to one for every 568 flights in 2022, the trade association said, without specifying how many of these incidents involved alcohol.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Chiefs wouldn’t relinquish the lead the rest of the game.—
Zak Keefer,
The Athletic,
19 Jan. 2025
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And, to access the program, a parent must relinquish custody of his or her child to the state — a requirement many parents find inhumane.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Some families who moved in decades ago passed homes down to their children.—
Will Carless,
USA TODAY,
12 Jan. 2025
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Palm Desert, a city of more than 50,000 near Palm Springs, passed a resolution in support of the monument.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Political reform, reducing Iranian influence and consolidating state authority over arms are seen by the U.S. (and many Iraqis) as essential for Iraq to assert its independence.—
James Durso,
The Hill,
16 Jan. 2025
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Giuliani has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and denies any wrongdoing, and continues to falsely assert there was widespread election fraud in 2020, which there is no evidence to support.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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He’ll ultimately be defined, though, by his ability to continue to wait for plays to develop and stay cerebral as the speed of the level around him ramps up.—
Scott Wheeler,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
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But the greater conversation around AI in 2025 will likely be defined by balance — safely getting the best out of AI, without overselling its promise.—
Kolawole Samuel Adebayo,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The 21-gun salute is a ceremonial tradition symbolizing the highest honor a nation can render.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
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This extended drought, exacerbated by Santa Ana winds, has rendered the landscape increasingly vulnerable.—
Chris Boyette and Michelle Watson,
CNN,
20 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Lay down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20down. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
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