lay down
verb
laid down; laying down; lays down
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
- constitute
- enact
- legislate
- make
- ordain
- pass
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 The two were among dozens of filmmakers who signed an open letter asking security forces to lay down their weapons rather than attack protesters in the aftermath of the collapse. 
Babak Dehghanpisheh, Washington Post, 13 July 2022 The latest crackdown on dissent in Iran saw Al-Ahmad and Rasoulof arrested on Friday over the posting of social media statements that urged Iranian security force members to lay down their weapons used against protesters. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 July 2022 Early on, Ukrainian soldiers received SMS messages urging them to lay down their weapons and go home. Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2022 Gulbar Akram urged his brother to lay down his weapons and return to his children alive. Bloomberg.com, 20 Jan. 2022 Jerry had been gone almost three years in January 2019 when one night Karen and I lay down to go to bed. Sandra Sobieraj Westfall, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 Ronson, who was equally impressed by the song, suggested that the late Taylor Hawkins should lay down drums on the track. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 28 July 2022 But, someone forgot to tell the Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy team to lay down. Scott Springer, The Enquirer, 27 May 2022 Yet Biden used the anniversary to lay down a set of principles for foreign policy as the United States and its allies arm Ukrainians and impose sanctions on Russia. Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2022 See More
Babak Dehghanpisheh, Washington Post, 13 July 2022 The latest crackdown on dissent in Iran saw Al-Ahmad and Rasoulof arrested on Friday over the posting of social media statements that urged Iranian security force members to lay down their weapons used against protesters. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 July 2022 Early on, Ukrainian soldiers received SMS messages urging them to lay down their weapons and go home. Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2022 Gulbar Akram urged his brother to lay down his weapons and return to his children alive. Bloomberg.com, 20 Jan. 2022 Jerry had been gone almost three years in January 2019 when one night Karen and I lay down to go to bed. Sandra Sobieraj Westfall, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 Ronson, who was equally impressed by the song, suggested that the late Taylor Hawkins should lay down drums on the track. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 28 July 2022 But, someone forgot to tell the Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy team to lay down. Scott Springer, The Enquirer, 27 May 2022 Yet Biden used the anniversary to lay down a set of principles for foreign policy as the United States and its allies arm Ukrainians and impose sanctions on Russia. Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
laid down
verb
1
as in enacted
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- enacted
- passed
- brought about
- approved
- constituted
- made
- ordained
- dictated
- legislated
- effected
- authorized
- permitted
- ratified
- reenacted
- proclaimed
- sanctioned
- executed
- repassed
- confirmed
- allowed
- administered
- decreed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- revoked
- killed
- repealed
- reversed
- rescinded
- canceled
- cancelled
- abolished
- invalidated
- overturned
- nullified
- abrogated
- annulled
- voided
2
as in declared
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- declared
- asserted
- professed
- explained
- affirmed
- proclaimed
- announced
- avouched
- guaranteed
- justified
- said
- promoted
- avowed
- pronounced
- upheld
- convinced
- defended
- advertised
- advanced
- emphasized
- averred
- stressed
- underscored
- persuaded
- plugged
- assured
- supported
- publicized
- boosted
- accented
- underlined
- accentuated
- advocated
- called
- espoused
- reaffirmed
- blazed
- championed
- rationalized
- reasserted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignored
- neglected
- disregarded
- minimized
- overlooked
- understated
3
as in specified
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly the supervisor laid down the procedure for a complaint of sexual harassment Synonyms & Similar Words
- specified
- defined
- prescribed
- directed
- ordered
- arranged
- selected
- assigned
- dictated
- instructed
- set
- told
- fixed
- ordained
- required
- conducted
- controlled
- chose
- forced
- managed
- settled
- led
- governed
- compelled
- obliged
- constrained
- charged
- adjured
- commanded
- coerced
- enjoined
- decreed
- bid
- obligated
- bade
4
as in relinquished
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress commanded the surrounded troops to lay down their weapons Synonyms & Similar Words
- relinquished
- rendered
- surrendered
- turned over
- delivered
- turned in
- handed over
- coughed up
- abandoned
- gave up
- transferred
- ceded
- yielded
- resigned
- released
- committed
- entrusted
- discarded
- waived
- abnegated
- consigned
- forfeited
- shed
- deserted
- renounced
- intrusted
- parted (with)
- forsook
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- retained
- kept
- withheld
- kickier
- kickiest
- kicking
- kicking (about)
- kicking about
- kicking around
- kicking back
- kicking butt
- kicking in
- kicking off
- kicking out
- kicking over
- kicking over the traces
- kicking the bucket
- kicking up
- kicking up a fuss
- kicking up one's heels
- kicking upstairs
- kicking-colt
- kicking-horses
- kickish
- kickoff
- kickoffs
- kickpipe
- kickplate