decide

verb de·cide \ di-ˈsīd , dē- \

|Updated on: 4 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: decide in a Sentence

Definition of decide

decided; deciding

transitive verb

1 a : 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

—

decider

noun

See decide defined for English-language learners

See decide defined for kids

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 of decide from the Web

Voters will decide the fate of the bond program on Nov. 7.

— diane smith, star-telegram, "Hey, Fort Worth students, do you know what time classes start next school year?," 13 July 2018
Senators who could cast the deciding votes on the fate of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh gave little indication of where their heads were on the matter on Tuesday, hours after President Donald Trump announced his nomination.

— nash jenkins, Time, "Here's What the Key Senators Think About Brett Kavanaugh Right Now," 10 July 2018
China recently decided to gradually end that policy, with preference for electric vehicles.

— megan geuss, Ars Technica, "Chinese firm will build battery factory in Germany to supply BMW, Volkswagen," 9 July 2018
People were testing boundaries, and Flynt decided to test them, too.

— Cincinnati Enquirer, "Read more from this Project," 13 July 2018
Kennedy was the deciding vote, joining the court’s four liberal justices.

— emily atkin, The New Republic, "How the New Supreme Court Could Halt Climate Action," 12 July 2018
Fifty years later, the national Shriners organization decided to focus its charitable work on child welfare and opened the first Shriners hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana.

— maria l. la ganga, idahostatesman, "What’s behind ’60s-era paneling at El Korah Shrine? A ballroom’s worth of ’20s art.," 12 July 2018
Fox now must decide whether to sweeten its offer for Sky to trump a higher bid from U.S. cable giant Comcast.

— georg szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, "U.K. Clears Fox's Sky Bid," 12 July 2018
Can't decide what to bring to a grieving family after a funeral?

— Southern Living, "Manners in Times of Sorrow: Your Questions Answered," 12 July 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of decide

Middle English, from Latin decidere, literally, to cut off, from de- + caedere to cut

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

decide Synonyms

Phrases

dispose of;

Synonym Discussion of 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

DECIDE Defined for English Language Learners

decide

verb

Definition of decide for English Language Learners

: to make a choice about (something) : to choose (something) after thinking about it
: to choose whether or not to believe (something) after thinking about it : to reach a conclusion about (something) because of evidence
: to cause (something) to end in a particular way : to determine what the result of (something) will be