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.
Spending had reached an estimated $6 billion by the time the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia decided to end its financial support in April.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
She wanted to cremate her daughter but decided, in the end, for a burial.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
On 9/11, he was in the North Tower lobby, about to head up to work, when he decided to stop at an optometrist’s shop in the street-level concourse to get his reading glasses fixed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Weakness in the Treasury market comes after the Netherlands’ central bank decided to move more of its gold out of New York to London.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026
We decided to tie both ends of the bell rope to the back of his mail wagon.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
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.
