decide

[ dih-sahyd ]

See synonyms for: decide decided decides deciding on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),de·cid·ed, de·cid·ing.

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.
to determine or settle (something in dispute or doubt): to decide an argument.

to bring (a person) to a decision; persuade or convince: The new evidence decided him.

verb (used without object),de·cid·ed, de·cid·ing.

to settle something in dispute or doubt: The judge decided in favor of the plaintiff.
to make a judgment or determine a preference; come to a conclusion.

Origin of decide

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”; see -cide )

Other words from decide

de·cid·er, noun
pre·de·cide, verb (used with object), pre·de·cid·ed, pre·de·cid·ing.
re·de·cide, verb, re·de·cid·ed, re·de·cid·ing.

Words Nearby decide

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use decide in a sentence

A famous example of decoupling occurred after golfer Tiger Woods’s sex scandal, Reed said, with some of his fans deciding they could separate “Tiger Woods the golfer and Tiger Woods the cheating husband.”
MyPillow boycott: How a product can spark an identity crisis | Elizabeth Chang | February 12, 2021 | Washington Post
He had always been a midfielder, but at the Barcelona academy, coaches decided to try him at forward.
Matthew Hoppe was a little-known American soccer player — until he reached the Bundesliga | Steven Goff | February 11, 2021 | Washington Post
I have zero problem with Cuban initially deciding not to play the anthem at Mavericks games this season.
The pregame national anthem — in all its roiling contradictions — still has something to offer | Barry Svrluga | February 11, 2021 | Washington Post
The Schneider Electric team decided it was time for a change.
Case study: Schneider Electric’s digital transformation through centralized search | Evan Kent and Kimberly Dutcher | February 11, 2021 | Search Engine Watch
It was deciding to step away from the team immediately afterward that was difficult.
A rare disease, a covid diagnosis, a painful decision: The death of basketball coach Lew Hill | Dave Sheinin | February 11, 2021 | Washington Post

Between 25 and 30, you’re trying to decide how much longer before you start growing a beard and calling yourself ‘Daddy.
Freaking Out About Age Gaps in Gay Relationships Is Homophobic | Samantha Allen | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Where the U.S. once depended on its own forces to determine who was military material, this time the Iraqis will decide.
Pentagon Insider on New Plan to Fight ISIS: ‘Of Course It’s Not Enough’ | Nancy A. Youssef | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
At that point, the Library of Congress can once again decide to prohibit consumers from unlocking their cell phones.
Nazis, Sunscreen, and Sea Gull Eggs: Congress in 2014 Was Hella Productive | Ben Jacobs | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
People always have to perceive the problems before them, including many unexpected nuances, and decide how to handle them.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans | Philip K. Howard | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Washington cannot let others—whether in Pyongyang or Beijing or Moscow, or Tehran—decide what Americans read or watch.
U.S. Should Make North Korea Pay for Sony Hack | Gordon G. Chang | December 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
decide about it, ye that are learned in the ethnographic distinctions of our race—but heaven defend us from the Bourbonnaises!
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846 | Various
How dare you decide in this cold-blooded way whether I am to be called—ah—Tosh—or—ah—Porker!
First Plays | A. A. Milne
It was probably this opposition that made young Cargill decide that it would be really worth while to defy the legend.
Uncanny Tales | Various
An appeal has been made by them from the House of Commons to you, and it is for the country to decide the question at issue.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV. | Various
He must therefore decide at once either to continue his membership or withdraw.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney Bolles

British Dictionary definitions for decide

decide

/ (dɪˈsaɪd) /

verb

(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
(tr) to cause (a person) to reach a decision: the weather decided me against going

(tr) to determine or settle (a contest or question): he decided his future plans
(tr) to influence decisively the outcome of (a contest or question): Borg's stamina decided the match
(intr; foll by for or against) to pronounce a formal verdict

Origin of decide

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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