- Main Entry:
- de·cide
- Pronunciation:
-
\di-ˈsīd, dē-\
- Function:
- verb
- Inflected Form(s):
- de·cid·ed; de·cid·ing
- Etymology:
- Middle English, from Latin decidere, literally, to cut off, from de- + caedere to cut
- Date:
- 14th century
transitive verb1 a: to make a final choice or judgment about <decide what to do> b: to select as a course of action —used with an infinitive <decided to go> c: to infer on the basis of evidence: conclude <they decided that he was right>2: to bring to a definitive end <one blow decided the fight>3: to induce to come to a choice <her pleas decided him to help>intransitive verb: to make a choice or judgment <decide on where to go>
—
de·cid·abil·i·ty \di-ˌsī-də-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun —
de·cid·able \di-ˈsī-də-bəl\ adjective — de·cid·er noun
synonyms decide,
determine,
settle,
rule,
resolve mean to come or cause to come to a conclusion.
decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy
<she decided to sell her house>.
determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something
<determined the cause of the problem>.
settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty
<the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy>.
rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority
<the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible>.
resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something
<he resolved to quit smoking>.
