decide

verb

de·cide di-ˈsīd

dē-

decided; deciding; decides

Synonyms of decide next

transitive verb

: to make a final choice or judgment about

decide what to do

couldn't decide whether to take the job or not

: to select as a course of action

—used with an infinitive

decided to go

: to infer on the basis of evidence : conclude

They decided that he was right.

: 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

: 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

decider

di-ˈsī-dər

dē-

noun

plural deciders

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web The Tax Court expressly decided to reaffirm its reasoning in Hallmark to treat the 90-day deficiency deadline as jurisdictional in nature (for cases outside of the Third Circuit). —

Timothy M. Todd, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 Photo: Ezekiel Photo: Ezekiel For his latest drop of hoodies, available today—and accompanied by a lookbook with The Face’s America Korban on styling duties—Gibbons decided to pay a more pointed homage to the two cities that have inspired him most: London and New York. —

Liam Hess, Vogue, 29 Nov. 2023 In 2022, Trump endorsed Johnson for a third term even before the Wisconsin senator had decided to run again. —

Olivia Rinaldi, CBS News, 29 Nov. 2023 It is led by boot camp head Alberto, who decides that his son Pablo, an aspiring artist, is ready to join the camp. —

Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 29 Nov. 2023 The New York Supreme Court for Kings County will hold a hearing on Monday to decide the final approval for the class-action settlement. —

Eden Villalovas, Washington Examiner, 29 Nov. 2023 The new decision comes four months after a jury decided that the document was valid despite being hard to read. —

Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2023 The European Commission has decided to freeze ads on Elon Musk‘s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Variety has confirmed. —

Ellise Shafer, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023 Teresa decides that maybe AllOver’s driverless fleet isn’t built entirely on a lie. —

Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 17 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English deciden, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French decider, borrowed from Latin dēcīdere "to cut off, cut out, mark by cutting, settle, choose as a course of action," from dē- de- + caedere "to strike, beat, kill, fell (trees, etc.), cut off or through" — more at concise

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of decide was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century