dictate
verb (used with object)
to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record.
dictates
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pluralof dictate.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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present tense formof dictate (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
dictateverb (used with object)to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At the core of her allegations is a distinction that banks make between frauds and scams, which dictates how customer claims are handled.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
The plot of “Cape Fear” dictates that this sporting tale of homicidal pettiness can only end one way.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
“A simple rule dictates my buying,” he wrote in his annual shareholders letter in the winter of 2009.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
Furthermore, Lord Biggar challenges the core premise of Project Spire and reparatory justice as a whole - that historic suffering directly dictates modern disadvantage.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
That consideration dictates single authorship, despite all the difficulties that it poses.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
