SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

decided

adjective de·cid·ed

Definition of decided

1 :unquestionable

holds a decided advantage over the competition

His most popular hat … has a medium-width brim with a decided curl.
—Greg Tasker

speaks with a decided lisp

2 :free from doubt or wavering

has decided ideas on politics

—

decidedly

adverb

—

decidedness

noun

See decided defined for English-language learners

See decided defined for kids

Examples of decided in a Sentence

a decided hint of perfume on her skin

Origin and Etymology of decided

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1790

See Words from the same year

decided Synonyms

Synonyms

apparent, bald, bald-faced, barefaced, bright-line, broad, clear-cut, crystal clear, clear, distinct, evident, lucid, luculent, luminous, manifest, nonambiguous, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, patent, pellucid, perspicuous, plain, ringing, straightforward, transparent, unambiguous, unambivalent, unequivocal, unmistakable

Antonyms

ambiguous, clouded, cryptic, dark, enigmatic (also enigmatical), equivocal, indistinct, mysterious, nonobvious, obfuscated, obscure, unapparent, unclarified, unclear, unclouded

Related Words

cognizable, cognoscible, comprehendible, comprehensible, digestible, fathomable, graspable, intelligible, knowable, understandable; self-evident, self-explanatory; clean-cut, simple, tidy, uncomplicated; overt, undisguised; appreciable, perceptible, recognizable, sensible, tangible; discernible (also discernable), noticeable, observable, visible; black-and-white, explicit, trenchant, well-defined; clean, decipherable, fair, legible, readable

Near Antonyms

incomprehensible, indecipherable, unfathomable, unintelligible, unknowable; impalpable, imperceptible, inappreciable, indiscernible, insensible; cloudy, gauzy, gray (also grey), hazy, imprecise, indefinite, indeterminate, misty, murky, nebulous, noncommital, sketchy, slippery, subtle, vague; illegible, undecipherable, unreadable

DECIDED Defined for English Language Learners

decided

adjective

Definition of decided for English Language Learners

: clear and definite : easy to notice

DECIDED Defined for Kids

decided

adjective de·cid·ed \ di-ˈsī-dəd \

Definition of decided for Students

1 :unmistakable

The older students had a decided advantage.

2 :free from doubt

“That's enough about lessons,” the Gryphon interrupted in a very decided tone …
—Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

—

decidedly

adverb

a decidedly French accent

Learn More about decided

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for decided Spanish Central: Translation of decided Nglish: Translation of decided for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of decided for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up decided? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

hew

play

to conform or adhere

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

The Exceptions Quiz III

Which of these words does not mean "nonsense"?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

alt-59e8c3440f453

I'll Have the Us(ual)

Shortening 'usual': easy to say, hard to spell

alt-59e77dc36c593

The Origins of 'Lobbyist'

From the front hallways to the back rooms

alt-59e673567065d

The History of the Word 'Terrorism'

Noah Webster first entered the term in 1840

alt-59e65152518a6

'Regimen' vs. 'Regiment'

The rule of thumb for words about rules

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless

Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals

Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

one-green-toy-robot-amidst-many-red-toy-robots

The Exceptions Quiz III

Which of these things doesn't belong?

Take the quiz

knupfer-painting-solon-before-croesus

Forms of Government Quiz

Name that government! Or something like that.

Take the quiz

Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz

SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game

Examples: decided in a Sentence