decide

American  

[dih-sahyd] / dɪˈsaɪd /

verb (used with object)

decided, deciding

1. to solve or conclude (a question, controversy, or struggle) by giving victory to one side.

   The judge decided the case in favor of the plaintiff.

2. to determine or settle (something in dispute or doubt).

   to decide an argument.

3. to bring (a person) to a decision; persuade or convince.

   The new evidence decided him.

---

verb (used without object)

decided, deciding

1. to settle something in dispute or doubt.

   The judge decided in favor of the plaintiff.

2. to make a judgment or determine a preference; come to a conclusion.

decide British  

/ dɪˈsaɪd /

verb

1. (may take a clause or an infinitive as object; when intr, sometimes foll by on or about) to reach a decision

   decide what you want

   he decided to go

2. (tr) to cause (a person) to reach a decision

   the weather decided me against going

3. (tr) to determine or settle (a contest or question)

   he decided his future plans

4. (tr) to influence decisively the outcome of (a contest or question)

   Borg's stamina decided the match

5. (intr; foll by for or against) to pronounce a formal verdict

---

Usage

What are other ways to say decide?

To decide is to settle something in dispute or doubt. How is it different from resolve and determine? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

• decider noun
• predecide verb (used with object)
• redecide verb

Etymology

Origin of decide

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English deciden, from Middle French decider, from Latin dēcīdere, literally, “to cut off,” equivalent to dē- de- + -cīdere (combining form of caedere “to strike, cut down”; -cide ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

Instead, McLaren devised what it called the Papaya Rules: Norris and Piastri were free to race each other and the road would decide which one would win his first F1 championship.

From The Wall Street Journal

Earlier this year, enough of his developers had individual accounts that he decided to get an enterprise account for the company.

From The Wall Street Journal

"That is really for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill said.

From BBC

The deal comes after several pharmaceutical giants decided to either reduce spending in the UK or increase their US investments following threats of tariffs as high as 100% on branded drug imports.

From BBC

SBC's planning committee will meet to decide the application's fate on 8 December.

From BBC

Related Words

• agree
• choose
• conclude
• determine
• elect
• end
• establish
• resolve
• rule
• select
• set
• vote