decide

[ dih-sahyd ]
See synonyms for: decidedecideddecidesdeciding on Thesaurus.com

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

  1. 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.
  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.

Origin of decide

1
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. 2024

How to use decide in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for decide

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

  1. (tr) to determine or settle (a contest or question): he decided his future plans

  2. (tr) to influence decisively the outcome of (a contest or question): Borg's stamina decided the match

  3. (intr; foll by for or against) to pronounce a formal verdict

Origin of decide

1
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