dictate
verb (used with object)
to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record.
has dictated
-
present perfectof dictate (3rd person singular).present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
For more than a quarter-century, a lawsuit settlement from a case brought in Los Angeles federal court has dictated conditions for children held in immigration detention.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Oil has dictated broader market moves since the conflict began at the end of last month, with surging crude prices weighing heavily on stocks, and intermittent pullbacks enticing investors back into risk markets.
From Barron's ● Mar. 17, 2026
Sources have maintained Peter Angelos, the team’s 94-year-old owner who has been incapacitated for several years, has dictated in his will that the baseball team be sold upon his death.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 12, 2023
The potentially toxic response to the treatment has dictated where it can be administered.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2022
I may here, without infringing on the requirements of good taste, allude to the tale she has dictated through this medium.
From Strange Visitors by Henry J. Horn
