decide

verb

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de·cide | \ di-ˈsīd

, dē- \

decided; deciding; decides

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 fix the course or outcome of (something) The Dodge teeters on the rear wheels, hanging there, as the hand of gravity decides my fate.— Larry Webster It is an imprecise science, but one that ultimately may decide the course of this and many seasons to come.— Steve Hummer especially : 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 Eternals is set to premiere on November 5th, assuming Marvel doesn’t decide to postpone upcoming MCU releases again due to the pandemic. — Chris Smith, BGR, "Massive Marvel spoiler might’ve just leaked the entire plot for ‘Eternals’," 31 Mar. 2021 They get pounced on, then decide to respond only to fall short because their margin for error was so thin. — BostonGlobe.com, "Another comeback fell short, and the Celtics’ rallies are no longer valiant," 31 Mar. 2021 Senator Joe Manchin III, the West Virginia Democrat whose vote could again decide the package’s fate, understands coal miners in his state would earn considerably less putting up wind turbines. — New York Times, "Biden’s Big Bet: Tackling Climate Change Will Create Jobs, Not Kill Them," 31 Mar. 2021 One is unfolding in the courtroom where a jury will decide whether former police officer Derek Chauvin is culpable in Floyd's death after pinning him to the ground with a knee on his neck. — Stephen Collinson And Caitlin Hu, CNN, "Outside the courtroom, the trial over George Floyd's death is seen as a test of the US itself," 30 Mar. 2021 Our staff, after consultation with coaches, has picked players from each of the fall sports based on outstanding performance over the past week (ending March 27) and are letting voting decide the rest. — Brent Kennedy, baltimoresun.com, "Jessica Rothermel, Milan Gupta garner Player of Week honors | Howard Sports Notebook," 28 Mar. 2021 Everything other than the outcome will remain secret unless the jurors decide to talk to the public or attorneys involved after things wrap up. — Mark Berman, Washington Post, "The jurors who will decide Derek Chauvin’s fate," 28 Mar. 2021 Plans filed with California regulators show that two Pacific Power executives decide whether to move forward with a public safety power shutoff: the vice president of operations and the vice president of transmission and distribution operations. — oregonlive, "Other utilities cut power to reduce Labor Day fire risks. Pacific Power did not. Now it may face the consequences," 28 Mar. 2021 Joining hosts Nicole Byer and Jacques Torres this season to help decide who wins are guest judges Andrea Savage, Ron Funches, Lil Rey Howery, Bobby Lee, Brian Posehn, and A$ap Ferg. — Ew Staff, EW.com, "What to Watch this Weekend: The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers skates onto Disney+," 26 Mar. 2021

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.