Synonyms

settle for

British

verb

(intr, preposition) to accept or agree to in spite of dispute or dissatisfaction

"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

settle for Idioms

Accept or be satisfied with as a compromise, as in He really wanted a bigger raise but decided to settle for what they offered. [Mid-1900s]

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.

He found the green of the par-five 13th in two, but sent the eagle opportunity whistling past the hole and was forced to settle for a par with a three-putt.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

It is that what he was willing to settle for was far less than what he initially demanded.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

The central bank’s reaction will be crucial for markets heading into the spring, but without visibility toward a conclusion of the conflict, investors will have to settle for more “wait and see” from policymakers.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

Even if it were, the linkage implies that “Dynasty: The Murdochs” doesn’t settle for simply being informative.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

“I should gladly settle for a quieter one.”

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023