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.

Thai custom dictates that the heir should be a male, but a 1974 amendment to the constitution does allow a female to take the throne.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

This album – 100% independently produced and distributed outside of the powerful entertainment machine that had forged Choi – rejects the dictates of a society that first rejected him.

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2026

The margins are so slim, however, that if a hitter isn’t convinced enough on a borderline strike call, and the situation dictates caution, he may not challenge.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

Hofmann said, “It is not the form that dictates the color, but the color that brings out the form.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

Grandmother Lucy says that decorum dictates I stay home unless you tell me it is all right to come.

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles