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

He decided to organise a raid - but said his officers would not do so without the involvement of Mr Tarawallie, who often assists the police on such operations.

Read more on BBC

The court decided not to, in part based on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s testimony that she was keeping a close eye.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati discovered that monk parakeets meeting unfamiliar birds tend to "test the waters" before deciding whether a potential partner is safe to approach.

Read more on Science Daily

The crowd chanted Cobolli's name as he kept his composure to serve out his comeback victory to love, having forced the breakthrough in the 11th game of a tense deciding set.

Read more on BBC

Administrators rely too heavily on student reviews when deciding whether to retain adjuncts, assistant professors and even associates.

Read more on The 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.