decided
Americanadjective
-
in no way uncertain or ambiguous; unmistakable; unquestionable.
a decided victory.
- Synonyms:
- indubitable, sure, definite, pronounced, certain, positive, indisputable, undeniable
-
free from hesitation or wavering; resolute; determined.
a decided approach to a problem.
- Synonyms:
- unhesitating, resolved
- Antonyms:
- uncertain
adjective
-
unmistakable
a decided improvement
-
determined; resolute
a girl of decided character
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of decided
Explanation
The adjective decided means recognizable, marked, or distinct. If you have a decided preference for classical music, you'll probably get Bach for your birthday and not the Beatles. Decided comes from the verb decide. If something has been decided, the question has been answered. So when we use decided as an adjective, we mean that there is no question about it. If you have decided political views, you won't be swayed by any debate. Decided can also mean distinct, as in a decided splash of yellow paint on your red car.
Vocabulary lists containing decided
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.
The three of them, all in their 20s, collectively decided to go into “monk mode,” they said, doing not much else besides building trading infrastructure and testing trades.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
When Catalina Romero arrived at Catalina Island’s tiny emergency room this week with a severe allergic reaction, officials decided she needed medical attention on the mainland.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
Last Friday, the commission decided that the march could go ahead with restrictions in place.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
As he tinkered, he told David Allemann and Caspar Coppetti about his experiments, and they were hiking in the Swiss Alps when they decided to take on a more grueling uphill challenge: starting a company.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
In seventh grade, our mothers had decided we should be friends because they were.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions 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.
