dictate

American  

[dik-teyt, dik-teyt, dik-teyt] / ˈdɪk teɪt, dɪkˈteɪt, ˈdɪk teɪt /

verb (used with object)

dictated, dictating

1. to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record.

   to dictate some letters to a secretary.

2. to prescribe or lay down authoritatively or peremptorily; command unconditionally.

   to dictate peace terms to a conquered enemy.

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verb (used without object)

dictated, dictating

1. to say or read aloud something to be written down by a person or recorded by a machine.

2. to give orders.

noun

1. an authoritative order or command.

2. a guiding or governing principle, requirement, etc..

   to follow the dictates of one's conscience.

   Synonyms:

   bidding

dictate British  

verb

1. to say (messages, letters, speeches, etc) aloud for mechanical recording or verbatim transcription by another person

2. (tr) to prescribe (commands) authoritatively

3. (intr) to act in a tyrannical manner; seek to impose one's will on others

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noun

1. an authoritative command

2. a guiding principle or rule

   the dictates of reason

Other Word Forms

• dictatingly adverb
• misdictated adjective
• predictate verb (used with object)
• redictate verb
• undictated adjective

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”

Example Sentences

Cal slowly begins to reconnect with old friends while actively defying his father’s dictates.

From Los Angeles Times

Tensions with the administration began almost immediately after it was awarded, in part because Anthropic’s terms and conditions dictate that Claude can’t be used for any actions related to domestic surveillance.

From The Wall Street Journal

Across 77 apps, he has dictated nearly 300,000 words in the past five months — that’s equivalent to writing three novels.

From Los Angeles Times

But the withholding tables that dictate how much money employers withhold from employees’ paychecks weren’t updated for 2025 based on the new law.

From The Wall Street Journal

The War Powers Act dictates how the executive must manage military operations, including that the administration must notify Congress within 48 hours of a military operation.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• govern
• guide
• impose
• lay down
• prescribe