decide

de·cide

verb \di-ˈsīd, dē-\

de·cid·edde·cid·ing

Definition of DECIDE

transitive verb

1

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

Examples of DECIDE

1. He decided that dinner would be at 7 o'clock, and asked guests to arrive at 6.
2. She is having difficulty deciding about the offer.
3. They decided that he was right.
4. I am trying to decide if it's warm enough for swimming.
5. “Do you think she is telling the truth?” “I'm not sure. I'm still trying to decide.”
6. A few hundred votes could decide the election.
7. One blow decided the fight.
8. This battle could very well decide the war.
9. Will the business be successful? Let the public decide.
10. The case will be decided by the Supreme Court.

Origin of DECIDE

Middle English, from Latin decidere, literally, to cut off, from de- + caedere to cut

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DECIDE

Synonyms

choose, conclude, determine, figure, name, opt, resolve, settle (on or upon)

Related Words

decree, rule; cull, elect, handpick, pick, prefer, select, single (out); adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, find, judge, referee, rule (on), umpire; chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, debate, deliberate, entertain, meditate, mull (over), ponder, question, ruminate, study, think (about or over), weigh

Near Antonyms

abstain, decline, refuse, reject, turn down; delay, halt, hesitate, stall, temporize; shilly-shally, vacillate, waffle, waver

Synonym Discussion of DECIDE

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>.

Rhymes with DECIDE

abide, allied, applied, aside, astride, backside, backslide, bankside, beachside, bedside, beside, bestride, betide, blear-eyed, blindside, blow-dried, blue-eyed, broadside, bromide, bug-eyed, Burnside, clear-eyed, cockeyed, cold-eyed, collide, confide, courtside, cowhide, cross-eyed, curbside, dayside, deride, divide, dockside, doe-eyed, downside, downslide, dry-eyed, ebb tide, elide, field guide, fireside, flip side, flood tide, fluoride, foreside, four-eyed, free ride, freeze-dried, Girl Guide, glass-eyed, graveside, green-eyed, hagride, hang glide, hard-eyed, hawkeyed, hayride, high tide, hillside, horsehide, inside, in stride, ironside, joyride, kingside, lakeside, landslide, low tide, lynx-eyed, misguide, moon-eyed, neap tide, nearside, nightside, noontide, offside, onside, outride, outside, pie-eyed, poolside, pop-eyed, preside, prompt side, provide, quayside, queenside, rawhide, red tide, reside, ringside, riptide, roadside, seaside, self-pride, sharp-eyed, shipside, shoreside, Shrovetide, sloe-eyed, snowslide, springtide, squint-eyed, stateside, statewide, storewide, Strathclyde, streamside, strong side, subside, tailslide, tongue-tied, topside, trackside, trailside, untried, upside, vat-dyed, walleyed, war bride, waveguide, wayside, wide-eyed, wild-eyed, worldwide, yuletide