deciding

[ dih-sahy-ding ]

/ dɪˈsaɪ dɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deciding ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Nearby words

decidable, decide, decided, decidedly, decider, deciding, decidua, decidua basalis, decidua capsularis, decidua menstrualis, decidua parietalis

Origin of deciding

First recorded in 1650–60; decide + -ing²

Related forms

de·cid·ing·ly, adverb

Definition for deciding (2 of 2)

decide

[ dih-sahyd ]

/ dɪˈsaɪd /

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

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.

to determine or settle (something in dispute or doubt): to decide an argument.

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.

to settle something in dispute or doubt: The judge decided in favor of the plaintiff.

to make a judgment or determine a preference; come to a conclusion.

Origin of decide

1350–1400; Middle English deciden < Middle French decider < Latin dēcīdere literally, to cut off, equivalent to dē- de- + -cīdere (combining form of caedere to cut)

Related forms

de·cid·er, nounpre·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.

Synonym study

1. Decide, resolve, determine imply settling upon a purpose and being able to adhere to it. To decide is to make up one's mind as to what shall be done and the way to do it: He decided to go today. To resolve is to show firmness of purpose: He resolved to ask for a promotion. To determine is to make up one's mind and then to stick to a fixed or settled purpose: determined to maintain his position at all costs.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for deciding

Excited, Shaheen wasted no time and began interviewing surgeons, deciding upon Dr. Curtis Crane in Greenbrae, California.
The Insurance Company Promised a Gender Reassignment. Then They Made a Mistake.|James Joiner|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And it might be easiest of all imagining him “exploring” a candidacy for a while and then deciding the hell with it.
Be the Smarter Bush Brother, Jeb: Don’t Run!|Michael Tomasky|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Growing rapidly as a community and up for grabs, Asian Americans are deciding elections around the country.
Asian Americans Are The Country’s Fastest Growing Swing Vote|Tim Mak|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I think some of the energy of the performance came from Bruce deciding, 'I'm going to claim this song back from Reagan.'
Are Politicians Too Dumb to Understand the Lyrics to ‘Born in the USA’?|Parker Molloy|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But he argued that the issue does motivate otherwise unlikely voters and could be a deciding factor in a close race.
Ganja Vs. Geezers in the Sunshine State|Ben Jacobs|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Much wisdom is demanded of an Irish leader in deciding the tactical questions arising from the vicissitudes of British parties.
Ireland and the Home Rule Movement|Michael F. J. McDonnell
She had misconstrued it, deciding that he was disappointed in her.
The Winning Clue|James Hay, Jr.
A deciding factor in favor of the Zeppelins was the ease with which they could be put into their sheds after each flight.
Zeppelin|Harry Vissering
A knowledge of how to use the bayonet and the will to use it must often be the deciding factors in battle.
Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army|War Department.
Sordid self and inflated aristocracy could have had no difficulty in deciding.
Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution|L. Carroll Judson

British Dictionary definitions for deciding

decide

/ (dɪˈsaɪd) /

verb

(may take a clause or an infinitive as object; when intr, sometimes foll by on or about) to reach a decisiondecide what you want; he decided to go

(tr) to cause (a person) to reach a decisionthe weather decided me against going

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

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

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

Word Origin for decide

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