dictate
verb (used with object)
to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record.
dictates
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pluralof dictate.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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present tense formof dictate (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
dictateverb (used with object)to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record.
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.
“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
“A simple rule dictates my buying,” he wrote in his annual shareholders letter in the winter of 2009.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
Furthermore, Lord Biggar challenges the core premise of Project Spire and reparatory justice as a whole - that historic suffering directly dictates modern disadvantage.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
There’s no law that dictates how Congress should resolve the looming Medicare financial crisis.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 15, 2026
I was subject to the dictates of my mind, which gave me the maneuverability of a strait jacket.
From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles
