Synonyms

deciding

American

[dih-sahy-ding] / dɪˈsaɪ dɪŋ /

adjective

that settles a question or dispute or leads to a final decision; determining; decisive.

the deciding vote; The weather will be the deciding factor as to whether we have the picnic or not.

Other Word Forms

decidingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of deciding

First recorded in 1650–60; decide + -ing ²

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.

But there are important things to consider before deciding on a car without actually seeing it in person, especially if you’re hunting for a used car on a budget.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

So, I'm desperate to go, in whatever role the manager would want me for; whether that's starting or deciding games late on.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Black voters have played a crucial role in deciding the party’s nominee in presidential primaries.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Several defense attorneys credited the state prosecutors for scrutinizing the charges more thoroughly and ultimately deciding that some of the cases did not pass the smell test.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

To while away the time, and perhaps to feign indifference until the deciding game was finished, Bobby began playing speed chess with a few of his chess friends.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023