decide

verb

de·cide | \ di-ˈsīd

, dē-\

decided; deciding

Definition of decide

transitive verb

1a : to make a final choice or judgment about decide what to do couldn't decide whether to take the job or not

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

Other Words from decide Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about decide

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Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of decide in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The Lost Symbol was originally set to be turned into a film, but eventually the creative forces that be decided to go with Inferno instead. — Lauren Huff, EW.com, "Robert Langdon series gets production commitment at NBC," 6 June 2019 Some students, Cooke said, decided to go home with their parents, while others went back to class after speaking with them. — Steven Goode, courant.com, "Windsor school locked down after Snap Chat threat," 6 June 2019 The island's governing body decided in 2017 to go ahead with the AU$10.5 million eradication, after 15 years of research and planning and a referendum that saw 52% of islanders vote in favor. — John Pickrell, Science | AAAS, "Mass rodent poisoning on this remote Australian island could bring back giant stick insect," 5 June 2019 Evidently your local newspaper decided to go another way. — Amy Dickinson, The Denver Post, "Ask Amy: Survivor’s family forces contact with her abuser," 4 June 2019 Evidently your local newspaper decided to go another way. — Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, "Survivor’s family forces contact with her abuser," 4 June 2019 Evidently your local newspaper decided to go another way. — Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, "Ask Amy: They pretend they don’t know this secret about my brother," 4 June 2019 Evidently your local newspaper decided to go another way. — Amy Dickinson, chicagotribune.com, "Ask Amy: Survivor's family forces contact with her abuser," 4 June 2019 Evidently your local newspaper decided to go another way. — Ask Amy, oregonlive.com, "Ask Amy: Family repeatedly ignores sister’s wish to avoid contact with abusive brother," 4 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'decide.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.