settle

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verb

Definition of SETTLE

1

to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid) <the light rain will settle the dust in the air> <careful handling will settle the lees in the bottom of the wine bottle>

Synonyms lay, sediment

Related Words filter, screen, sieve, sift, strain; clarify, clear; resettle

Near Antonyms agitate, disturb, mix, stir

Antonyms raise

2

to supply with inhabitants <the region was originally settled by farmers>

Synonyms colonize, people, populate

Related Words inhabit; move (to), relocate (to)

Antonyms depopulate, unpeople

3

to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) <settled the lawsuit in favor of the defendant>

Synonyms adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, decide, determine, referee, rule (on), settle, umpire

Related Words consider, deem, deliberate, hear, ponder, weigh; size up; mediate, moderate, negotiate; prosecute, try; find (for or against); conclude, resolve; redetermine, rejudge

Near Antonyms equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, skirt

4

to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of <settled their wedding plans without any major disagreements>

Synonyms agree (on), decide, fix, set, settle

Related Words contract, pledge, promise; blueprint, calculate, chart, concert, design, draft, frame, hammer out, intrigue, lay out, maneuver, map (out), plan, program (also programme), schematize, scheme, shape, square away, work out; choose, conclude, determine, figure, opt, resolve; affirm, approve, authorize, clear, confirm, OK (or okay), sanction, warrant; close, complete, end, finalize, finish, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up; bargain, chaffer, deal, dicker, haggle, horse-trade, negotiate

Near Antonyms abort, call, call off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke; differ (over), disagree (with); counter, debate, object, oppose, protest, resist; contest, dispute

5

to come to rest after descending from the air <birds settling on the branches of the maple tree>

Synonyms land, light, perch, roost, settle, touch down

Related Words belly-land, crash-land

Near Antonyms arise, ascend, climb, rise; float, fly, glide, plane, soar, wing; hang, hover

Antonyms blast off, take off

6

to establish or place comfortably or snugly <settled the sleeping baby into her crib>

Synonyms install, lodge, nestle, perch, roost, settle

Related Words deploy, emplace, fix, locate, park, plant, position, set, situate, station; anchor, bivouac, camp, camp (out); burrow, curl up, dig in; harbor, house

7

to free from distress or disturbance <a hot meal settled the children down>

Synonyms becalm, compose, lull, lullaby, quiet, quieten [chiefly British], salve, settle, soothe, still, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

Related Words appease, conciliate, hush, mollify, pacify, placate; allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, lay, mitigate, quell, relax, relieve, solace; narcotize, sedate, stupefy

Near Antonyms aggravate, heighten, intensify; arouse, excite, foment, incite, rouse, stir (up), work up

Antonyms agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, key (up), perturb, upset, vex

8

to gain emotional or mental control of <settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst>

Synonyms calm, compose, contain, control, re-collect, settle

Related Words hold back, restrain; rally, recover; lull, quiet, soothe, still, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

9

to give what is owed for <settle a debt>

Synonyms ante up, balance, clear, discharge, foot, liquidate, meet, pay off, pay up, pony up, quit, recompense, settle, spring (for), stand

Antonyms repudiate

10

to make final, definite, or beyond dispute <this information should settle the question of who is right>

Synonyms decide, determine, nail, settle

Related Words demonstrate, establish, nail (down), prove, show; affirm, assure, ensure, insure, secure; define, specify, state, stipulate; clarify, clear (up), illuminate; conclude, end, finish

Near Antonyms confuse, muddle, muddy, unsettle

11

to stop the noise or speech of <settled the class with a firm “quiet!”>

Synonyms dumb, extinguish, hush, mute, quell, quiet, quieten [chiefly British], settle, shush, shut up, squelch, still

Near Antonyms agitate, stir