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.
Whatever happened when Nadal walked out to serve for the championship, the referee had already decided that would be the final game of Sunday's play.
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026
And considering this, what happened here is clear: He had written the first part of this book before he decided to run for Senate in 2022.
From Slate • Jun. 18, 2026
He had thought about “hiring a car” but decided against it, and “I’m pretty glad I did. ... I’m really using public transport, which has been fine.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026
Callais, which they decided five weeks earlier, as addressing the “tension” between the standards for enforcing the 1965 Voting Rights Act and “our colorblind Constitution.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026
Berlin wasn’t even hungry, was sick of Indian tacos—whatever you decided to call them—anyhow.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
