decide

[dih-sahyd]

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of decide¹

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. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of decide¹

C14: from Old French decider, from Latin dēcīdere, literally: to cut off, from caedere to cut

Example Sentences

Mr Moore says he is planning to celebrate the new discovery but has yet to decide exactly how.

Read more on BBC

Could the tech be hijacked by terrorists and used as an enormous weapon, or what if it decides for itself that humanity is the cause of the world's problems and destroys us?

Read more on BBC

According to a court reporter’s transcript of the hearing, Judge Arun Subramanian, who decided the case, argued that “juries don’t acquit defendants of conduct. They acquit them of charges.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The agency would typically hold a public meeting before deciding to order a recall or ask the Justice Department to sue a company to comply with a recall order.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

“If the public would have this chance to decide again in Germany, I’m sure they would take nuclear,” said Walter Schumacher, a retired German mathematician who was one of the antinuclear protesters at Tihange.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.