settle

verb

ˈse-tᵊl How to pronounce settle (audio)
Definition of settlenext
1
as in to lay
to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid) the light rain will settle the dust in the air careful handling will settle the lees in the bottom of the wine bottle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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2
as in to inhabit
to supply with inhabitants the region was originally settled by farmers

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3
as in to decide
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) settled the lawsuit in favor of the defendant

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4
as in to arrange
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of settled their wedding plans without any major disagreements

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5
as in to perch
to come to rest after descending from the air birds settling on the branches of the maple tree

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6
as in to lodge
to establish or place comfortably or snugly settled the sleeping baby into her crib

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7
as in to compose
to free from distress or disturbance a hot meal settled the children down

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to contain
to gain emotional or mental control of settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst

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9
as in to pay
to give what is owed for settle a debt

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10
as in to determine
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute this information should settle the question of who is right

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11
as in to shush
to stop the noise or speech of settled the class with a firm "quiet!"

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb settle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of settle are decide, determine, resolve, and rule. While all these words mean "to come or cause to come to a conclusion," settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty.

the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy

When might decide be a better fit than settle?

While in some cases nearly identical to settle, decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.

she decided to sell her house

When is it sensible to use determine instead of settle?

The words determine and settle can be used in similar contexts, but determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.

determined the cause of the problem

When would resolve be a good substitute for settle?

In some situations, the words resolve and settle are roughly equivalent. However, resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something.

he resolved to quit smoking

In what contexts can rule take the place of settle?

Although the words rule and settle have much in common, rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.

the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of settle Late in the half Miami seemed poised to knot the score but settled for a 27-yard field goal, partly wasting Toney’s 61-yard catch and run to the Louisville nine. —Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025 Auburn’s red-zone defense has been strong, but its pass coverage from linebackers and safeties has been a weak point, potentially creating an area Missouri could exploit if quarterback Beau Pribula settles in early. —Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025 The Duke of York has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and in February 2022, settled with Giuffre — who died by suicide earlier this year — out of court for an undisclosed sum. —Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025 Starship, a giant, fully reusable vehicle designed to help humanity settle Mars. —Mike Wall, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for settle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settle
  1. lay
  2. inhabit
  3. decide
  4. arrange
  5. perch
  6. lodge
  7. compose
  8. contain
Verb
  • Since being deployed to the nation’s capital in August, many guardsmen have been assigned to help with beautification projects like picking up trash and laying mulch, according to CNN.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
  • With each brick laid at The Site, The Toy will document dad’s decades-long dream.
    — Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2025
Definition of lay
Verb
  • If time allows, add Museum of the American Revolution (Washington’s original field tent is the star), the Betsy Ross House, where the famed seamstress designed the American flag, and cobblestoned Elfreth’s Alley, the nation’s oldest continuously inhabited residential street, to your agenda.
    — Regan Stephens, AFAR Media, 14 Oct. 2025
  • But inhabiting this patchwork outcast has sparked a creative resurgence (and rave reviews) for the 28-year-old Australian star, plus some real Oscar buzz.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Definition of inhabit
Verb
  • As the team struggles with grief, Sharon decides to pull Station 42 off active duty entirely, rather than assign a new captain.
    — Alamin Yohannes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
  • When New Jersey suddenly came down hard on business, neighbouring Delaware decided to rewrite its rulebook to scoop up companies fleeing the state.
    — Jan Hammer, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Definition of decide
Verb
  • In a feat of logistics, the production miraculously arranged the shooting schedule so that every principal actor’s final scene on the show was also their last day of filming — something the Duffers have been freshly reliving again and again in the edit bay.
    — Kate Aurthur, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
  • However, for years, police suspected that Charles arranged the murder of Markel.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2025
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • Last year, moments included a violinist perched 15 feet in the air with a cascading 20-foot dress, a crew of mythic horsehead creatures, the Raven, the Jester, Cersei, and Arachnea.
    — Jenny Adams, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Two seats for passengers in the back fold beneath the area where a casket would perch.
    — Laura Lane, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025
Definition of perch
Verb
  • The ex-councilor pleaded guilty on May 5 to two of six charges — one count of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning a federal program — that had been lodged against her in a December 2024 federal indictment.
    — Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The latest ceasefire quickly showed signs of fragility as both sides lodged complaints about how the other was handling the rollout of phase one, but the agreement has continued to hold as of Tuesday.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Definition of lodge
Verb
  • When fully integrated, the launch system is composed of both a 232-foot Super Heavy rocket and the 171-foot upper stage Starship, the spacecraft where crew and cargo would ride.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The bridge is 641 feet long and is composed of more than 888 tons of structural steel.
    — Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Definition of compose
Verb
  • The following contains light spoilers for the Season 3 premiere of Elsbeth.
    — Scarlett Harris, Time, 13 Oct. 2025
  • State regulators ultimately denied Gershman and Citimark a permit to encroach on the portion of the development containing wetland, but warehouse construction is proceeding on the remaining parts of the 150-acre development.
    — IndyStar, IndyStar, 13 Oct. 2025
Definition of contain

Phrases Containing settle

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setting upon
settle
settled
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Cite this Entry

“Settle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settle. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on settle

Nglish: Translation of settle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about settle

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