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>.