dictate

American  

[dik-teyt, dik-teyt, dik-teyt] / ˈdɪk teɪt, dɪkˈteɪt, ˈdɪk teɪt /

verb (used with object)

dictated, dictating

1. to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record.

   to dictate some letters to a secretary.

2. to prescribe or lay down authoritatively or peremptorily; command unconditionally.

   to dictate peace terms to a conquered enemy.

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verb (used without object)

dictated, dictating

1. to say or read aloud something to be written down by a person or recorded by a machine.

2. to give orders.

noun

1. an authoritative order or command.

2. a guiding or governing principle, requirement, etc..

   to follow the dictates of one's conscience.

   Synonyms:

   bidding

dictate British  

verb

1. to say (messages, letters, speeches, etc) aloud for mechanical recording or verbatim transcription by another person

2. (tr) to prescribe (commands) authoritatively

3. (intr) to act in a tyrannical manner; seek to impose one's will on others

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noun

1. an authoritative command

2. a guiding principle or rule

   the dictates of reason

Other Word Forms

• dictatingly adverb
• misdictated adjective
• predictate verb (used with object)
• redictate verb
• undictated adjective

Etymology

Origin of dictate

First recorded in 1585–95; from Latin dictātus “said repeatedly,” past participle of dictāre “to say repeatedly, order, prescribe,” from dīcere “to say, speak, tell”

Example Sentences

Logic dictates that England's role on Saturday will be to simply bear witness to France's title-winning coronation.

From BBC

Details on the plan remain scarce, and the pace of the release will dictate its effect on prices.

From The Wall Street Journal

Assets are valued using a “risk-free” interest rate, and an investor’s tolerance in either taking risk on, or shunning it entirely, dictates the prices of those assets throughout the whole of their tradable life.

From Barron's

Telling his own story decades later, Harry would recount how royal custom dictated he ask his grandmother for permission to marry Meghan.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The success or failure of a film can be dictated by these anonymous subreddits to a certain extent.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• govern
• guide
• impose
• lay down
• prescribe