settle
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to appoint, fix, or resolve definitely and conclusively; agree upon (as time, price, or conditions).
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to place in a desired state or in order.
to settle one's affairs.
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to pay, as a bill.
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to close (an account) by payment.
- Synonyms:
- liquidate
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to migrate to and organize (an area, territory, etc.); colonize.
The pilgrims settled Plymouth.
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to cause to take up residence.
They settled immigrants in urban areas.
- Synonyms:
- relocate
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to furnish (a place) with inhabitants or settlers.
The French settled this colony with army veterans.
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to quiet, calm, or bring to rest (the nerves, stomach, etc.).
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to stop from annoying or opposing.
A sharp word will settle that youngster.
- Synonyms:
- pacify, still, compose, tranquilize
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to conclude or resolve.
to settle a dispute.
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to make (someone) comfortable or snug.
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to make stable; place in a permanent position or on a permanent basis.
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to cause (a liquid) to become clear by depositing dregs.
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to cause (dregs, sediment, etc.) to sink or be deposited.
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to cause to sink down gradually; make firm or compact.
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to dispose of finally; close up.
to settle an estate.
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Law.
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to secure (property, title, etc.) on or to a person by formal or legal process.
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to terminate (legal proceedings) by mutual consent of the parties.
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verb (used without object)
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to decide, arrange, or agree (often followed by on orupon ).
to settle on a plan of action.
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to arrange matters in dispute; come to an agreement.
to settle with a person.
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to pay a bill; make a financial arrangement (often followed byup ).
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to take up residence in a new country or place.
Many Frenchmen settled along the Mississippi River following La Salle's explorations.
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to come to rest, as from flight.
A bird settled on a bough.
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to gather, collect, or become fixed in a particular place, direction, etc..
A cold settled in my head.
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to become calm or composed (often followed bydown ).
I'll wait until the class settles before starting the lesson.
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to come to rest (often followed bydown ).
We settled down for the night at an old country inn.
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to sink down gradually; subside.
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to become clear by the sinking of suspended particles, as a liquid.
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to sink to the bottom, as sediment.
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to become firm or compact, as the ground.
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(of a female animal) to become pregnant; conceive.
verb phrase
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settle into to become established in.
to settle into a new routine.
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settle for to be satisfied with.
to settle for less.
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settle down
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to become established in some routine, especially upon marrying, after a period of independence or indecision.
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to become calm or quiet.
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to apply oneself to serious work.
There were so many distractions that we weren't able to settle down to studying.
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noun
verb
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(tr) to put in order; arrange in a desired state or condition
he settled his affairs before he died
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to arrange or be arranged in a fixed or comfortable position
he settled himself by the fire
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(intr) to come to rest or a halt
a bird settled on the hedge
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to take up or cause to take up residence
the family settled in the country
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to establish or become established in a way of life, job, residence, etc
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(tr) to migrate to and form a community; colonize
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to make or become quiet, calm, or stable
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(intr) to be cast or spread; come down
fog settled over a wide area
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to make (a liquid) clear or (of a liquid) to become clear; clarify
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to cause (sediment) to sink to the bottom, as in a liquid, or (of sediment) to sink thus
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to subside or cause to subside and become firm or compact
the dust settled
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(sometimes foll by up) to pay off or account for (a bill, debt, etc)
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(tr) to decide, conclude, or dispose of
to settle an argument
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(intr; often foll by on or upon) to agree or fix
to settle upon a plan
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(tr; usually foll by on or upon) to secure (title, property, etc) to a person, as by making a deed of settlement, will, etc
he settled his property on his wife
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to determine (a legal dispute, etc) by agreement of the parties without resort to court action (esp in the phrase settle out of court )
noun
Other Word Forms
- quasi-settled adjective
- settleability noun
- settleable adjective
- settledness noun
- unsettleable adjective
- well-settled adjective
Etymology
Origin of settle1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English setlen, setel(le) “to seat, place in a seat, be seated; sink down; descend,” Old English setlan (attested once) “to settle, seat, take a position of rest,” derivative of setl settle 2; compare Dutch zetelen
Origin of settle2
First recorded before 900; Middle English setle, setel(e), settel “seat, chair, bench, place for sitting,” Old English setl, sedl, sethl; cognate with German Sessel “armchair,” Gothic sitls “seat,” Latin sella (from unrecorded sedla “saddle”; akin to sit 1
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.
Less than 30 hours later, the dust settled on a mind-boggling stretch that confirmed a wholesale changing of the guard.
The second episode airs Jan. 26 as the drama settles into its regular slot on Mondays at 9 p.m.
From Los Angeles Times
One of the cases settled for $2 million, according to court records.
From Los Angeles Times
The Walt Disney Co. has settled claims that it violated child privacy laws, said the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times
Because sediment carries nutrients, these locations are considered prime targets in the search for evidence of past life, Zaki said, though more research is needed to determine exactly where those sediments ultimately settled.
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
