settle

[ set-l ]

/ ˈsɛt l /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR settle ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), set·tled, set·tling.

to appoint, fix, or resolve definitely and conclusively; agree upon (as time, price, or conditions).

to place in a desired state or in order: to settle one's affairs.

to pay, as a bill.

to close (an account) by payment.

to migrate to and organize (an area, territory, etc.); colonize: The pilgrims settled Plymouth.

to cause to take up residence: They settled immigrants in urban areas.

to furnish (a place) with inhabitants or settlers: The French settled this colony with army veterans.

to quiet, calm, or bring to rest (the nerves, stomach, etc.).

to stop from annoying or opposing: A sharp word will settle that youngster.

to conclude or resolve: to settle a dispute.

to make stable; place in a permanent position or on a permanent basis.

to cause (a liquid) to become clear by depositing dregs.

to cause (dregs, sediment, etc.) to sink or be deposited.

to cause to sink down gradually; make firm or compact.

to dispose of finally; close up: to settle an estate.

Law.

to secure (property, title, etc.) on or to a person by formal or legal process.
to terminate (legal proceedings) by mutual consent of the parties.

verb (used without object), set·tled, set·tling.

to decide, arrange, or agree (often followed by on or upon): to settle on a plan of action.

to arrange matters in dispute; come to an agreement: to settle with a person.

to pay a bill; make a financial arrangement (often followed by up).

to take up residence in a new country or place: Many Frenchmen settled along the Mississippi River following La Salle's explorations.

to come to rest, as from flight: A bird settled on a bough.

to gather, collect, or become fixed in a particular place, direction, etc.: A cold settled in my head.

to become calm or composed (often followed by down): I'll wait until the class settles before starting the lesson.

to come to rest (often followed by down): We settled down for the night at an old country inn.

to sink down gradually; subside.

to become clear by the sinking of suspended particles, as a liquid.

to sink to the bottom, as sediment.

to become firm or compact, as the ground.

(of a female animal) to become pregnant; conceive.

Verb Phrases

settle down,

to become established in some routine, especially upon marrying, after a period of independence or indecision.
to become calm or quiet.
to apply oneself to serious work: There were so many distractions that we weren't able to settle down to studying.

settle for, to be satisfied with: to settle for less.

settle into, to become established in: to settle into a new routine.

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Question 1 of 9

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Origin of settle

before 1000; Middle English set(t)len,Old English setlan (attested once) to place, derivative of setlsettle²; compare Dutch zetelen

SYNONYMS FOR settle

1 set, establish.

4 liquidate.

6 relocate.

7 people, colonize.

9 tranquilize, compose, still, pacify.

11 stabilize, establish, confirm.

20 locate, relocate.

25 decline, fall, abate.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR settle ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM settle

set·tle·a·ble, adjectiveset·tle·a·bil·i·ty, nounset·tled·ness, nounquasi-settled, adjective

un·set·tle·a·ble, adjectivewell-settled, adjective

Words nearby settle

set the world on fire, setting, setting lotion, setting rule, setting-up exercise, settle, settle a score, settled, settle down, settle for, settle in

Definition for settle (2 of 2)

settle²

[ set-l ]

/ ˈsɛt l /

noun

a long seat or bench, usually wooden, with arms and a high back.

Origin of settle

before 900; Middle English: seat, sitting place, Old English setl; cognate with German Sessel armchair, Gothic sitls seat, Latin sella saddle; akin to sit¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for settle

Unispace predicts the percentage of office workers who want to work from home at least three days a week will settle at around 40% in January of 2022.
The future of working will be at home—and at the office|Alan Murray|August 28, 2020|Fortune
As the realization settles in that the pandemic will stretch into multiple quarters rather than multiple months, CEOs must again grapple with how to advise their employees on returning to the office.
I’m a physician and a CEO. Why I won’t bring my employees back to the office before Labor Day 2021|matthewheimer|August 26, 2020|Fortune
To take that up a notch, get sleeping bags, cue up the season of that show you never got to and settle in for the night.
Virtually Celebrate in Style|Tracy Moran|August 5, 2020|Ozy
In 2010, Twitter settled charges with the Federal Trade Commission over failing to protect users’ personal information.
Twitter hack jolts companies into a social media security check|Lara O'Reilly|July 17, 2020|Digiday

Several more fruitless rounds of talks to settle an official border have taken place.
China And India’s Deadly Himalayan Clash Is A Big Test For Modi. And A Big Concern For The World|LGBTQ-Editor|June 19, 2020|No Straight News
I settle for a sweater and jacket and throw a tie in my briefcase just in case it turns out to be the prom.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I started to squirm in my chair and Jimbo put his hand back on my shoulder to settle me down.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The pressure is on the Supreme Court to settle this once and for all.
Gay Marriage Chaos Begins|Jay Michaelson|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They form a daily currency by which we settle relationships, but they also create doubt.
Wonder Woman’s Creation Story Is Wilder Than You Could Ever Imagine|Tom Arnold-Forster|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That figure represents the serious cut that the players took to settle the 2011 lockout, when it was slashed from 57 percent.
2014 NBA Preview: Skinny LeBron and the Racist Ghost of Donald Sterling|Robert Silverman|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The audit office should have information at hand sufficient to decline the claim or settle it immediately.
The Modern Railroad|Edward Hungerford
I thought you had entirely forgot my £20 amid the other weighty matters you had to settle for me.
The Book-Hunter|John Hill Burton
Railroads helped to settle the west and build up states beyond the Mississippi.
The Beginner's American History|D. H. Montgomery
In the interim, Sir Philip Harclay thought proper to settle his worldly affairs.
The Old English Baron|Clara Reeve
You cannot hurry constructions of this kind; they must have time to settle.
Modern Eloquence: Vol III, After-Dinner Speeches P-Z|Various

British Dictionary definitions for settle (1 of 2)

settle¹

/ (ˈsɛtəl) /

verb

(tr) to put in order; arrange in a desired state or conditionhe settled his affairs before he died

to arrange or be arranged in a fixed or comfortable positionhe settled himself by the fire

(intr) to come to rest or a halta bird settled on the hedge

to take up or cause to take up residencethe family settled in the country

to establish or become established in a way of life, job, residence, etc

(tr) to migrate to and form a community; colonize

to make or become quiet, calm, or stable

(intr) to be cast or spread; come downfog settled over a wide area

to make (a liquid) clear or (of a liquid) to become clear; clarify

to cause (sediment) to sink to the bottom, as in a liquid, or (of sediment) to sink thus

to subside or cause to subside and become firm or compactthe dust settled

(sometimes foll by up) to pay off or account for (a bill, debt, etc)

(tr) to decide, conclude, or dispose ofto settle an argument

(intr; often foll by on or upon) to agree or fixto settle upon a plan

(tr; usually foll by on or upon) to secure (title, property, etc) to a person, as by making a deed of settlement, will, etche settled his property on his wife

to determine (a legal dispute, etc) by agreement of the parties without resort to court action (esp in the phrase settle out of court)

Derived forms of settle

settleable, adjective

Word Origin for settle

Old English setlan; related to Dutch zetelen; see settle ²

British Dictionary definitions for settle (2 of 2)

settle²

/ (ˈsɛtəl) /

noun

a seat, for two or more people, usually made of wood with a high back and arms, and sometimes having a storage space in the boxlike seat

Word Origin for settle

Old English setl; related to Old Saxon, Old High German sezzal

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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WORD OF THE DAY

settle

verb (used with object), set·tled, set·tling.

verb (used without object), set·tled, set·tling.

Verb Phrases

QUIZZES

WHO SAID IT: A QUIZ ON PRESIDENTIAL WIT AND WISDOM

Origin of settle

SYNONYMS FOR settle

OTHER WORDS FROM settle

Words nearby settle

Definition for settle (2 of 2)

noun

Origin of settle

Example sentences from the Web for settle

British Dictionary definitions for settle (1 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of settle

Word Origin for settle

British Dictionary definitions for settle (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for settle

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

settle

verb (used with object), set·tled, set·tling.

verb (used without object), set·tled, set·tling.

Verb Phrases

QUIZZES

WHO SAID IT: A QUIZ ON PRESIDENTIAL WIT AND WISDOM

Origin of settle

SYNONYMS FOR settle

OTHER WORDS FROM settle

Words nearby settle

Definition for settle (2 of 2)

noun

Origin of settle

Words related to settle

Example sentences from the Web for settle

British Dictionary definitions for settle (1 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of settle

Word Origin for settle

British Dictionary definitions for settle (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for settle