settles

present tense third-person singular of settle
1
as in lays
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

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Relevance

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

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3
4
5
as in perches
to come to rest after descending from the air birds settling on the branches of the maple tree

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6
7
8
as in contains
to gain emotional or mental control of settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst

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9
10
11
as in shushes
to stop the noise or speech of settled the class with a firm "quiet!"

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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 settles Which frontier model wins, which lab pulls ahead, which assistant the market finally settles on, none of it is easy to predict. Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 Before My Morning Jacket settles into San Francisco for an October residency, frontman Jim James is turning inward. Spin Staff, SPIN, 23 June 2026 On average, each dollar donated to Undue Medical Debt settles $100 in medical debt. Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 22 June 2026 The instinctive Moon settles into your 4th House of Home, while rule-making Saturn in your 11th House of Friends sets structure, creating a quincunx that complicates plans and messages. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026 Soft, salt‑sweet air settles over a stretch of sand where no one seems in a rush to be anywhere else. David Dickstein, Oc Register, 17 June 2026 Still, after the dust settles, the Iranian regime may end up in a better financial situation than before the war started. David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 June 2026 Continue reading … FREE SPEECH WIN — Student's family settles for $95K after district treated patriotic mural as a criminal act. FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026 Your 4th House of Home softens as sensual Venus settles there and trines spiritual Neptune in your 12th House of Solitude, encouraging rest and boundary repair. Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settles
Verb
  • This microscopic roundworm lays its eggs in root tissues, causing swellings or galls to develop on infected roots.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 June 2026
  • On Wednesday, the president signed a memorandum of understanding with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that lays the groundwork for a 60-day ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and further negotiations on core issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.
    Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • While Toy Story films usually focus on one child, Toy Story 5 will introduce Blaze, a girl who inhabits Jesse’s old farm where Emily — Jesse’s original owner from Toy Story 2 — once lived, voiced by Myka-Michelle Harris.
    Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 20 June 2026
  • Together with his assistant Patricia (Kate O’Flynn) and true believer Wyck (Stephen Root), Tom discovers the off vibes originate with a pact between town founder Richard Warren (Hamish Linklater) and the demonic force that inhabits the island.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Someone decides what counts as cultivation and what counts as nuisance, what gets watered and what gets pulled, what belongs in the planned bed and what must be removed before visitors arrive.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2026
  • Complaints against Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank go to the Israeli military's own prosecution service — the Military Advocate General — which decides whether to open an investigation, and whether any soldier should be charged.
    Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • And then someone arranges logistics and provides the weapon.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 June 2026
  • Aria even has a musical director, who arranges performances and special events and compiles soundtracks for individual stays.
    Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • Head to Stoos, which perches on a plateau at the base of the Fronalpstock in central Switzerland.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2026
  • Live streams from entertainment events like the Grammys or Golden Globes aren’t typically perches for controversy, but, says Anthony McCartney, AP’s entertainment and lifestyles editor, celebrities will sometimes be asked to weigh in on recent headlines.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Lech nestles along the eponymous river, tucked in amongst Austria’s westernmost mountains.
    Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Boasting a playful curved lip that fits neatly in your palm and elegantly nestles one after the other in a stack, these wavy plates are an exceptionally sculptural way to set the table.
    Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 26 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Leaving Your Safe Space Too Quickly After the storm, many people assume the danger is over as soon as the weather calms down—but a lot of injuries happen during cleanup.
    Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 20 June 2026
  • Niacinamide calms redness and evens tone, and glycerin delivers long-lasting hydration.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Bar soap contains fatty acids that react with certain minerals, especially those in hard water.
    Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 21 June 2026
  • The report compiled by the Star-Telegram contains data from June 7-13 and 98 inspections.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Settles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settles. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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