lay claim to

Idioms  

1. Assert one's right to or ownership of, as in “What claim lays she to thee?” (Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors, 3:2). [Late 1500s] Also see stake a claim.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lay claim to

Although other places, notably the Greek island of Chios, also lay claim to Homer's origins, ancient Smyrna and its hinterland -- where Bornova is located -- are closely associated with the poet.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

Contemporary nations like Iran, Armenia, and Egypt can lay claim to being built on very old civilizations, but you could point out discontinuities and lapses in sovereignty in their histories that complicate the argument.

From Slate ● Jul. 4, 2026

Using big pocketbooks to lay claim to the supply chain is all well and good for those who can afford it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026

Sixth-tier Macclesfield could lay claim to having produced the greatest shock in the FA Cup's 155-year history.

From BBC ● Jan. 10, 2026

No one, it seemed, was sure where Nuer land ended and Dinka land began, so each tribe tried to lay claim to the areas richest in water.

From "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park

Related Words

• allege
• ask
• assert
• believe
• call for
• challenge
• collect
• declare
• defend
• hold
• insist
• need
• take