settle
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
settles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
settled,
past participle, past
-
settling
present participle
-
to appoint, fix, or resolve definitely and conclusively; agree upon (as time, price, or conditions).
-
to place in a desired state or in order.
to settle one's affairs.
-
to pay, as a bill.
-
to close (an account) by payment.
- Synonyms:
- liquidate
-
to migrate to and organize (an area, territory, etc.); colonize.
The pilgrims settled Plymouth.
-
to cause to take up residence.
They settled immigrants in urban areas.
- Synonyms:
- relocate
-
to furnish (a place) with inhabitants or settlers.
The French settled this colony with army veterans.
-
to quiet, calm, or bring to rest (the nerves, stomach, etc.).
-
to stop from annoying or opposing.
A sharp word will settle that youngster.
- Synonyms:
- pacify, still, compose, tranquilize
-
to conclude or resolve.
to settle a dispute.
-
to make (someone) comfortable or snug.
-
to make stable; place in a permanent position or on a permanent basis.
-
to cause (a liquid) to become clear by depositing dregs.
-
to cause (dregs, sediment, etc.) to sink or be deposited.
-
to cause to sink down gradually; make firm or compact.
-
to dispose of finally; close up.
to settle an estate.
-
Law.
-
to secure (property, title, etc.) on or to a person by formal or legal process.
-
to terminate (legal proceedings) by mutual consent of the parties.
-
verb (used without object)
-
settles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
settled,
past participle, past
-
settling
present participle
-
to decide, arrange, or agree (often followed by on orupon ).
to settle on a plan of action.
-
to arrange matters in dispute; come to an agreement.
to settle with a person.
-
to pay a bill; make a financial arrangement (often followed byup ).
-
to take up residence in a new country or place.
Many Frenchmen settled along the Mississippi River following La Salle's explorations.
-
to come to rest, as from flight.
A bird settled on a bough.
-
to gather, collect, or become fixed in a particular place, direction, etc..
A cold settled in my head.
-
to become calm or composed (often followed bydown ).
I'll wait until the class settles before starting the lesson.
-
to come to rest (often followed bydown ).
We settled down for the night at an old country inn.
-
to sink down gradually; subside.
-
to become clear by the sinking of suspended particles, as a liquid.
-
to sink to the bottom, as sediment.
-
to become firm or compact, as the ground.
-
(of a female animal) to become pregnant; conceive.
verb phrase
-
settle into to become established in.
to settle into a new routine.
-
settle for to be satisfied with.
to settle for less.
-
settle down
-
to become established in some routine, especially upon marrying, after a period of independence or indecision.
-
to become calm or quiet.
-
to apply oneself to serious work.
There were so many distractions that we weren't able to settle down to studying.
-
noun
verb
-
(tr) to put in order; arrange in a desired state or condition
he settled his affairs before he died
-
to arrange or be arranged in a fixed or comfortable position
he settled himself by the fire
-
(intr) to come to rest or a halt
a bird settled on the hedge
-
to take up or cause to take up residence
the family settled in the country
-
to establish or become established in a way of life, job, residence, etc
-
(tr) to migrate to and form a community; colonize
-
to make or become quiet, calm, or stable
-
(intr) to be cast or spread; come down
fog settled over a wide area
-
to make (a liquid) clear or (of a liquid) to become clear; clarify
-
to cause (sediment) to sink to the bottom, as in a liquid, or (of sediment) to sink thus
-
to subside or cause to subside and become firm or compact
the dust settled
-
(sometimes foll by up) to pay off or account for (a bill, debt, etc)
-
(tr) to decide, conclude, or dispose of
to settle an argument
-
(intr; often foll by on or upon) to agree or fix
to settle upon a plan
-
(tr; usually foll by on or upon) to secure (title, property, etc) to a person, as by making a deed of settlement, will, etc
he settled his property on his wife
-
to determine (a legal dispute, etc) by agreement of the parties without resort to court action (esp in the phrase settle out of court )
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
settleabilitynoun
-
settlednessnoun
-
quasi-settledadjective
-
settleableadjective
-
unsettleableadjective
-
well-settledadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
settlesimple
-
settlessimple
-
have settledperfect
-
has settledperfect
-
am settlingprogressive
-
are settlingprogressive
-
is settlingprogressive
-
have been settlingperfect progressive
-
has been settlingperfect progressive
Past
-
settledsimple
-
had settledperfect
-
was settlingprogressive
-
were settlingprogressive
-
had been settlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of settle1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English setlen, setel(le) “to seat, place in a seat, be seated; sink down; descend,” Old English setlan (attested once) “to settle, seat, take a position of rest,” derivative of setl settle 2; compare Dutch zetelen
Origin of settle2
First recorded before 900; Middle English setle, setel(e), settel “seat, chair, bench, place for sitting,” Old English setl, sedl, sethl; cognate with German Sessel “armchair,” Gothic sitls “seat,” Latin sella (from unrecorded sedla “saddle”; akin to sit 1
Explanation
To settle means to come to order or rest, much as snow settles on the ground or dust settles on the dining room table. Settle has a number of meanings. After moving several times, you'll wish your parents would settle in one place for the rest of your school years. Have you ever heard your house creaking or groaning? That's the house settling. When adults tell children to calm down, they'll often say, "Settle down kids!" And as a legal term, you settle a lawsuit when the accuser and the accused come to an agreement without going to court.
Vocabulary lists containing settle
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The ACT Reading Test: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Investors should distinguish those outcomes: Continued sales growth would not, by itself, settle the question of bargaining power.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
She says she called the nonbinding referendum to settle a question dividing the province.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
Computer models suggest that high pressure will then settle close to the UK which should keep Atlantic low pressure systems at bay for the time being, bringing long spells of dry weather for many.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
“You don’t have to settle for the Sunday scaries,” said Callen.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
I didn’t want to settle for a fake date.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
“Verity” is no different, allowing Johnson to move her character between suspicion and warmth with languid ease as she settles into Verity’s Vermont home to work.
From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026
It is often confused with the International Court of Justice, also based in The Hague, which settles disputes between countries.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
When the dust settles, however, the block as a whole can only be considered a success.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
The analysts made their assessment as Nike prepares to report quarterly results next week, and as David Denton, its new chief financial officer, settles into the job.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026
“When I came in, Miss Havisham, I thought there was nothing of Estella in the face or figure; but now it all settles down so curiously into the old—”
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
Either show up on time or do it upon your return, after you get settled.
From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026
According to France Assureurs, 56 percent of home insurance claims had been settled.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
Gold and silver futures settled lower after U.S. consumer price inflation for September landed above estimates, increasing market expectations for a Fed interest-rate rise this month and pushing the U.S. dollar higher.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
The situation changed once the Moon settled into an orbit that kept the same hemisphere facing our planet.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
As soon as he got Abby settled on her bed, he would turn on the radio and listen to the ball game.
From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret
After initially settling in the suburbs of Washington, her family moved to Minnesota as she entered high school.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Beyond settling the competition, the researchers uncovered a more intriguing scientific question.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
After settling into their custom abode, Biles—who is listed on the deed alongside her mother, Nellie—put the property on the market for $1.2 million.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
That last one is how John solves the season’s overarching mystery, settling one of the story’s defining and tormented relationships into a peaceful place.
From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026
At the end of a hard day there was nothing I looked forward to more than settling down to hear his stories.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
