settle

verb

Save Word

set·tle | \ ˈse-tᵊl

settled; settling\ ˈset-liŋ

, ˈse-tᵊl-iŋ \

Definition of settle

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to place so as to stay

2a : to establish in residence

b : to furnish with inhabitants : colonize

3a : to cause to pack down

b : to clarify by causing dregs or impurities to sink

4 : to make quiet or orderly

5a : 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

2a : to sink gradually or to the bottom

b : to become clear by the deposit of sediment or scum

c : to become compact by sinking

3a : 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

4a : to become quiet or orderly

b : to take up an ordered or stable life —often used with downmarry and settle down

5a : to adjust differences or accounts

b : to come to a decision —used with on or uponsettled on a new plan

c : to conclude a lawsuit by agreement out of court

6 of an animal : conceive

settle for

: to be content with

settle one's hash

: to silence or subdue someone by decisive action

settle the stomach

: to remove or relieve the distress or nausea of indigestion

settle

noun

Definition of settle (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from settle Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about settle

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for settle

Verb

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 In September, Louisville officials agreed to pay $12 million and institute reforms in order to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Ms. Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer. — New York Times, "Louisville Officer Who Shot Breonna Taylor Will Be Fired," 29 Dec. 2020 Williams is in a comfortable place, with less pressure to try to take over a game because others can, with an ability to settle in as one of the main weapons in a team of depth and versatility. — Mike Anthony, courant.com, "Mike Anthony: Christyn Williams’ maturity shows in numbers and beyond as UConn rolls past Xavier," 20 Dec. 2020 The archdiocese and the plaintiff, represented by attorney Roger Stetter, soon agreed to settle the case out of court for $550,000 — a large sum for a decades-old abuse claim. — David A. Hammer, NOLA.com, "Monster in our midst: Despite predatory past, deacon welcomed back to Catholic institutions," 17 Dec. 2020 As revolution swept Tunisia 10 years ago, the people of Jemna saw their chance to settle a colonial-era score – seizing a 460-acre date plantation just outside the oasis town. — Layli Foroudi, The Christian Science Monitor, "Local Tunisian date farm grows progress for its community," 17 Dec. 2020 Both resisted strong public and political pressure, including from the Obama administration, to settle with the financial industry. — Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, "In picking a team, Biden has been guided by memories of his late son," 16 Dec. 2020 The regulator reduced Barclay’s fine by 30% because the bank agreed to settle the case and didn’t dispute the regulator’s findings. — Sabela Ojea, WSJ, "U.K. Watchdog Fines Barclays Units $34.7 Million Over Treatment of Customers in Arrears," 15 Dec. 2020 That leaves the onus on the Biden administration to settle old lawsuits, pass new executive orders, and reinterpret federal decisions to get environmental standards back on course. — Purbita Saha, Popular Science, "The Trump administration’s environmental legacy can be undone. Here’s how.," 9 Dec. 2020 The disclosure came after Gross offered to settle the case, complaining the hearing was putting his, and court personnel’s, health at risk. — Patricia Hurtado, Bloomberg.com, "Gross Hearing in Neighbor Dispute Halted Over Covid Exposure," 7 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun If that is the way the world works today, then your trip to the top of the mountain to ask the guru will have to be delayed (COVID, of course), and all of us are going to have settle for finding more crevices. — Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Why busy people need to take time to reflect," 26 Oct. 2020 Her 8-year-old and 10-year-old settle into chairs and use a hotspot to connect to the Internet. — Washington Post, "Left without school or day care, farmworkers are bringing their kids to work," 15 Oct. 2020 Particles denser than fuel settle in pockets and corners of low-velocity flow, and there are many low-velocity pockets between the gas tank and the engine. — Matt Jancer, Popular Mechanics, "Can Sugar Destroy a Car's Engine?," 12 July 2020 The front porch is a study spot, a selfie studio, a home gym and a lookout place for familiar faces as evening settles. — Jenna Watson, Indianapolis Star, "Portraits from the porch: An ode to the heroism of staying home," 19 May 2020 When the dust from the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak settles, Cleveland’s government and private landlords may need to help businesses stay afloat, a councilman said. — Robert Higgs, cleveland, "Cleveland may need to aid businesses as they weather the coronavirus fallout, councilman says," 26 Mar. 2020 Confidence: Medium-High A LOOK AHEAD Refreshingly cooler high pressure settles in for a partly to mostly sunny Friday and Saturday. — Dan Stillman, Washington Post, "D.C.-area forecast: Sizzling heat today with record highs likely, then starting to feel more like fall," 2 Oct. 2019 As the dust thrown up by Brexit settles, a dozen or so volunteers are refocusing on the museum, which will likely take years to finish. — Max Colchester, WSJ, "You Thought Brexit Was Hard. Try Starting a Museum in Its Honor.," 26 Jan. 2020 The site will evolve with new features as days and weeks of the new normal settle in. — Stacy Sullivan, azcentral, "Support local: Businesses innovate, adapt to keep local economy going," 27 Mar. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'settle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about settle

Dictionary Entries near settle

Statistics for settle

Last Updated

13 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Settle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/settle. Accessed 24 Jan. 2021.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for settle

settle

verb

English Language Learners Definition of settle

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to end (something, such as an argument) by reaching an agreement

: to make a final decision about (something)

: to move to a place and make it your home

settle

noun

English Language Learners Definition of settle (Entry 2 of 2)

: a long wooden bench with arms, a high solid back, and often with space under the seat which can be used to store things

See the full definition for settle in the English Language Learners Dictionary

settle

verb

set·tle | \ ˈse-tᵊl

settled; settling

Kids Definition of settle

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to come to rest Birds settled on a branch. Dust settled on the table.

2 : to make a home I'd like to settle in the country.

3 : to make quiet : calm The tea settled my nerves.

4 : decide sense 1 It's settled then—we'll each pay our own way.

5 : to place so as to stay I settled myself in a chair.

6 : to sink gradually to a lower level The foundations of the house settled.

7 : to sink in a liquid

8 : to give attention to Settle down to work now.

9 : to fix by agreement They are hoping to settle the case out of court.

10 : to put in order They settled their affairs.

11 : to complete payment on Waiter, we're ready to settle our bill.

12 : to bring to an end They settled their argument.

13 : to take up a stable life You're not a kid anymore. It's time to settle down.

14 : to be content with He settled for his second choice.

settle

noun

Kids Definition of settle (Entry 2 of 2)

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

settle

verb

set·tle | \ ˈset-ᵊl

settled; settling

Medical Definition of settle

transitive verb

of an animal : impregnate sense 1a

intransitive verb

of an animal : conceive

Keep scrolling for more

settle

verb

set·tle

settled; settling

Legal Definition of settle

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)

5a : 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

Keep scrolling for more