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Synonyms

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.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Uber, seeking to lay claim to the robotaxi space as Waymo and Tesla grow their operations, has been striking partnership deals with an assortment of carmakers and autonomous technology companies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

One of the few stocks that can lay claim to outperforming Nvidia has done it again.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

Whichever nation establishes a presence there first could lay claim to the region for themselves.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 20, 2025

With 15 perfect darts, it can lay claim to be the greatest leg in the history of the tournament.

From BBC • Jul. 26, 2025

Only insofar as he struggled successfully with the sea could a man lay claim to his place in things.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.