lay down
verb
laid down; laying down; lays down
1
: to give up : surrender
lay down your arms
2
4
a
: to direct toward a target
lay down a barrage
b
: to hit along the ground
laid down a sacrifice bunt
nonstandard
: to lie down
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
Maria put on a mask against the putrid smell and lay down on the ground.
—
Philip Wang,
Time,
29 June 2026
Your dog should be able to comfortably stand up, lay down and turn around inside their crate.
—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
First, a spider would lay down an anchor point on a surface where green tree ants were likely to forage, before attaching it to a tension line connecting back to the main web.
—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
Each surgery disrupts blood supply to the skin and lays down a new layer of scar tissue, meaning the risks compound with every procedure.
—
Victoria Oliva,
Allure,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay down
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Philip Wang,
Time,
29 June 2026
Your dog should be able to comfortably stand up, lay down and turn around inside their crate.
—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
First, a spider would lay down an anchor point on a surface where green tree ants were likely to forage, before attaching it to a tension line connecting back to the main web.
—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
Each surgery disrupts blood supply to the skin and lays down a new layer of scar tissue, meaning the risks compound with every procedure.
—
Victoria Oliva,
Allure,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay down
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lay%20down. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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