settle

1 of 2

verb

set·​tle ˈse-tᵊl 

settled; settling ˈse-tᵊl-iŋ 

ˈset-liŋ

transitive verb

1

: to place so as to stay

2

a

: to establish in residence

b

: to furnish with inhabitants : colonize

3

a

: to cause to pack down

b

: to clarify by causing dregs or impurities to sink

4

: to make quiet or orderly

5

a

: to fix or resolve conclusively

settle the question

b

: to establish or secure permanently

settle the order of royal succession

c

: to conclude (a lawsuit) by agreement between parties usually out of court

d

: to close (something, such as an account) by payment often of less than is due

6

: to arrange in a desired position

7

: to make or arrange for final disposition of

settled his affairs

8

of an animal : impregnate

intransitive verb

1

: to come to rest

2

a

: to sink gradually or to the bottom

b

: to become clear by the deposit of sediment or scum

c

: to become compact by sinking

3

a

: to become fixed, resolved, or established

a cold settled in his chest

b

: to establish a residence or colony

settled in Wisconsin

—often used with down

4

a

: to become quiet or orderly

b

: to take up an ordered or stable life

—often used with down

marry and settle down

5

a

: to adjust differences or accounts

b

: to come to a decision

—used with on or upon

settled on a new plan

c

: to conclude a lawsuit by agreement out of court

6

of an animal : conceive

settleable

ˈse-tᵊl-ə-bəl 

ˈset-lə-bəl

adjective

see also settle for, settle one's hash, settle the stomach

settle

2 of 2

noun

: a wooden bench with arms, a high solid back, and an enclosed foundation which can be used as a chest

Illustration of settle

Synonyms of settle

Verb

• lay
• filter
• clear

Choose the Right Synonym for settle

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 settle in a Sentence

Verb

They were determined to settle the dispute before going home for the day.

The two sides have settled their differences.

We need to settle this question once and for all.

That settles it. I can't take the day off from work, so I'm not going.

His grandparents were immigrants from Germany who settled in Pennsylvania.

He always thought he'd leave the city and settle in the country.

the people who settled the West

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Origins The Lumbee Tribe says it is made up of survivors of multiple eastern tribal nations who settled in a geographically isolated area of North Carolina while Native Americans were being driven to the West, according to the tribe's website. —Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 16 Dec. 2025

Trump often welcomes fights with major media outlets, though recent history shows that when defendants choose to litigate rather than settle with him, courts tend to side with the First Amendment. —Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 2025

Noun

Winds should taper off a bit as high pressure settles in, so that's a positive. —Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025

Ruiz describes how the heat rises from volcanic rock and settles into your muscles with a slow steady warmth. —Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to seat, bring to rest, come to rest, from Old English setlan, from setl seat

Noun

Middle English, place for sitting, seat, chair, from Old English setl; akin to Old High German sezzal seat, Latin sella seat, chair, Old English sittan to sit

First Known Use

Verb

1515, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1553, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing settle

• let the dust settle
• resolve/settle differences
• score to settle
• settle accounts with
• settle a lawsuit
• settle a/the score
• settle down
• settle one's account
• settle on/upon (something)
• settle (someone or something) down
• settle (something) on (someone)

Rhymes for settle

• betel
• cetyl
• kettle
• metal
• mettle
• nettle
• petal
• setal
• diacetyl
• gunmetal
• nonmetal
• resettle

Kids Definition

settle

1 of 2 noun

set·​tle ˈset-ᵊl 

: a long wooden bench with arms and a high solid back

settle

2 of 2 verb

settled; settling

ˈset-liŋ, 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to place so as to stay

settled into a chair

2

a

: to establish in a place to live : colonize

settled the West

b

: to make one's home

settle in the country

3

: to make or become quiet : calm

rocking settled the baby

4

: decide sense 1

settle the question

5

: to put in order : make final arrangements

settle an estate

settle a bill

6

: to adjust differences

settle a quarrel

7

a

: to come to rest

birds settling on a branch

b

: to descend usually slowly and stay down

mist settling in the valley

8

a

: to sink gradually or to the bottom

the foundations of the house settled

—often used with out

dust particles settling out

b

: to sink in a liquid

sediment settles to the bottom

9

: to apply oneself

—usually used with down

settle down to study

10

: to take up an ordered life

—often used with down

marry and settle down

Medical Definition

settle

verb

set·​tle ˈset-ᵊl 

settled; settling

transitive verb

of an animal : impregnate sense 1a

intransitive verb

of an animal : conceive

Legal Definition

settle

verb

set·​tle

settled; settling

transitive verb

1

: to resolve conclusively

settle a question of law

2

: to establish or secure permanently

a settled legal principle

3

: close

settle the sale of securities

settle the estate

4

: to resolve a disagreement about (a court order)

no hearing to consider these objections and to settle the order had been conducted

—Saba v. Gray, 314 N.W.2d 597 (1981)

5

a

: to fix (a price) by mutual agreement

b

: to conclude (a lawsuit) by entering into an agreement negotiated by the parties usually out of court

c

: to close (as an account) by payment

also : to close by compromise and payment of less than the full amount claimed or due

intransitive verb

1

: to conclude a lawsuit by entering into an agreement

the plaintiff chose to settle out of court

2

: to make a settlement of a transfer of funds

3

: to adjust differences or accounts

settled with his creditors