dictate
verb (used with object)
to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record.
dictating
-
present participleof dictate.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
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
Two years of dictating that everyone commute into work on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays was hurting the morale as well as the productivity of many.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 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
“People seem to be obsessed with now dictating what I’ll do and when?!”
From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026
Besides dictating career opportunities, the system shaped geographic destiny, with the core class allowed to live in and around Pyongyang.
From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden
