dictate
verb (used with object)
to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record.
had dictated
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past perfectof dictate.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
“Churchill not only liked to get something down on paper as soon as he possibly could, but he demanded to see at once how what he had dictated looked like in type,” Mr. Stiles writes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 22, 2026
In the past, seniority had dictated most of these choices.
From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2025
During a 1954 trial she revealed how Hoppe had dictated messages to her but claimed she knew nothing of the Nazi murders at Stutthof.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2021
“Until recently, our climate had dictated that the primary need for use of the program funds was heating assistance.”
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 19, 2021
If War Admiral lost, Riddle could always say that Howard had dictated the terms of the race.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
