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 infinitivedecided 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 coach admitted to the affair, but the couple decided to stay together and Larry retracted the paperwork. — Eric Todisco, PEOPLE.com, "Larry King’s Estranged Wife Shawn Says She Was ‘Blindsided’ by Divorce Filing: 'It Hurt'," 17 Sep. 2019 Most people aren’t currently in the process of deciding whether or not to have a kid, and 85 percent of Americans drive to work and live in cities designed to require a car. — Kate Wheeling, The New Republic, "Jonathan Safran Foer on Our Moral Obligation to Eat Better," 17 Sep. 2019 Assistant state attorney Michael Horowitz requested a higher bond of $250,000 if Malik were allowed to leave South Florida, but Broward Judge Jackie Powell decided a full bond reduction hearing should be held before another judge. — Wayne K. Roustan, sun-sentinel.com, "Mom accused of speeding at more than 90 mph in crash that killed her son, 5," 17 Sep. 2019 Sanford announced his run earlier this month, a day after the state GOP decided to forego a Republican primary for 2020. — Lacrai Mitchell, CBS News, "Biden, Buttigieg, Klobuchar and de Blasio court rural voters in South Carolina," 17 Sep. 2019 Neither team shot well in the series-deciding slugfest, especially the game’s stars. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen combined to shoot 8-29 from the field, and Kobe Bryant coughed up a 6-24 effort. — Michael Shapiro, SI.com, "Ranking the Best NBA Finals of the Past Decade," 16 Sep. 2019 Under the settlement, the GBRA and the plaintiffs will each select an expert to help decide whether the lakes are safe for continued use. — Josh Baugh, ExpressNews.com, "Property owners, GBRA reach accord to avoid draining Guadalupe River lakes," 16 Sep. 2019 He was supposed to cover the flats, but didn’t see any receivers there and decided to drop back. — Justin Fitzgerald, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Football: Off to 2-0 start, Manchester Valley ‘tired of losing,’ showing ‘heart and grit’," 15 Sep. 2019 Perrault was in jail at the time and Moroccan officials decided to honor an arrest warrant presented by U.S. authorities. — Fox News, "Former New Mexico priest, 81, sentenced to 30 years for sex abuse of altar boy," 15 Sep. 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.