dictate
Americanverb (used with object)
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dictates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dictated,
past participle, past
-
dictating
present participle
-
to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record.
to dictate some letters to a secretary.
-
to prescribe or lay down authoritatively or peremptorily; command unconditionally.
to dictate peace terms to a conquered enemy.
verb (used without object)
-
dictates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dictated,
past participle, past
-
dictating
present participle
-
to say or read aloud something to be written down by a person or recorded by a machine.
-
to give orders.
noun
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dictates
plural
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an authoritative order or command.
-
a guiding or governing principle, requirement, etc..
to follow the dictates of one's conscience.
- Synonyms:
- bidding
verb
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to say (messages, letters, speeches, etc) aloud for mechanical recording or verbatim transcription by another person
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(tr) to prescribe (commands) authoritatively
-
(intr) to act in a tyrannical manner; seek to impose one's will on others
noun
-
an authoritative command
-
a guiding principle or rule
the dictates of reason
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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redictateverb
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predictateverb (used with object)
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misdictatedadjective
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undictatedadjective
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dictatinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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dictatesimple
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dictatessimple
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have dictatedperfect
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has dictatedperfect
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am dictatingprogressive
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are dictatingprogressive
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is dictatingprogressive
-
have been dictatingperfect progressive
-
has been dictatingperfect progressive
Past
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dictatedsimple
-
had dictatedperfect
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was dictatingprogressive
-
were dictatingprogressive
-
had been dictatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of dictate
First recorded in 1585–95; from Latin dictātus “said repeatedly,” past participle of dictāre “to say repeatedly, order, prescribe,” from dīcere “to say, speak, tell”
Explanation
When you dictate something, you are giving orders — acting a bit like a dictator. Dictate can also be used in a broader sense. Weather often dictates how many layers of clothes you wear, and the school rules dictate how you behave in and out of class. In a very different meaning, dictate means to say something out loud to a person or into a machine so it can be recorded. Up until fairly recently, bosses dictated letters and reports to secretaries who wrote them down.
Vocabulary lists containing dictate
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 3
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You Can Say That Again: Dic and Dict
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The New SAT: The Language of the Test
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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.
See Examples For:
They occur naturally in the body, helping dictate processes such as repairing tissue.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who supports Stevens, doesn’t dictate each race, and some of his preferences are made more overt than others.
From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026
"It was about refusing to let fear dictate the memory of the day," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
According to Mensch and Smith, those customers are seeking a combination of greater AI model choice—in other words, from outside the U.S.—and the ability to dictate where and how their infrastructure is run.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Faction customs dictate even idle behavior and supersede individual preference.
From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth
The bulks list rather dictates what ingredients compounding pharmacies can use when mixing custom medications for patients with a specific prescription.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
The plot of “Cape Fear” dictates that this sporting tale of homicidal pettiness can only end one way.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
“Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
There’s no law that dictates how Congress should resolve the looming Medicare financial crisis.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 15, 2026
That consideration dictates single authorship, despite all the difficulties that it poses.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Sandy confirms making that call, claiming her email was dictated by her stepdaughter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
For more than a quarter-century, a lawsuit settlement from a case brought in Los Angeles federal court has dictated conditions for children held in immigration detention.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
"Portugal dictated most of the game, but Rafael Leao did not offer that extra spark, neither did the other substitutes," said Balague.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
Sandford—to firmly establish that birthplace, rather than bloodline or race, dictated U.S. citizenship.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
While not really an apology—indeed, forces beyond his control had dictated his actions—this was at least a major concession.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
The administration has completed a framework dictating which models will be subject to federal government review before they are released publicly, a White House official said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
Some communities have strong cultural traditions dictating who should fill the caretaker role — in many cases, that’s the eldest daughter.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
“It just seemed like he was dictating counts all day long,” Roberts said, “versus trying to be too fine, getting behind.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
Spain's use of width creates space for Lamine Yamal and enables them to generate chances, while Rodri and Pedri dominate midfield, controlling possession and dictating the tempo of the game.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great lady’s attention, which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others.
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
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.
