settle
1to 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 (someone) comfortable or snug.
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.
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.
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.
Origin of settle
1Other words for settle
Other words from settle
- set·tle·a·ble, adjective
- set·tle·a·bil·i·ty, noun
- set·tled·ness, noun
- quasi-settled, adjective
- un·set·tle·a·ble, adjective
- well-settled, adjective
Words Nearby settle
Other definitions for settle (2 of 2)
a long seat or bench, usually wooden, with arms and a high back.
Origin of settle
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use settle in a sentence
Bridgewater, which fought the panel’s decision that it must pay the Tekmerion founders’ legal fees, has since settled the case.
The losses continue to pile up for hedge fund king Ray Dalio | Bernhard Warner | September 15, 2020 | FortuneResearchers have generally settled for repeatedly measuring flow speed at several points in the turbulence.
An Unexpected Twist Lights Up the Secrets of Turbulence | David H. Freedman | September 3, 2020 | Quanta MagazineThey don’t jump back in and trade until mid-November once the dust has settled.
The markets rally is this close to becoming the ‘greatest of all time’ | Bernhard Warner | September 2, 2020 | FortuneAs businesses have settled into this new normal, they’ve also been looking inward.
Deep Dive: How companies and their employees are facing the future of work | Digiday | September 1, 2020 | DigidayAs 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
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 | THE DAILY BEASTI started to squirm in my chair and Jimbo put his hand back on my shoulder to settle me down.
The pressure is on the Supreme Court to settle this once and for all.
Now they either settle, which they should have done 20 years ago, or they go in front of the judge.
In Tussle Over Will, Mistress’s Family Takes a Bite Out of NYU | Anthony Haden-Guest | November 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThey 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 | THE DAILY BEASTHaving accomplished his task within three months Datto Mandi withdrew with all his men, except two who wished to settle at Pardo.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanAs night began to settle down over the land, the Queen Elizabeth seemed to feel the time had come to give full vent to her wrath.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonAnd we will also settle and assure the particular rights and interests of every planter and adventurer.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.In fact, one evening, his wife and children deserted him entirely and went to settle elsewhere, thinking it was all over with him.
Many people when presented with the argument above, would settle it at once with the word "socialism."
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen Leacock
British Dictionary definitions for settle (1 of 2)
/ (ˈsɛtəl) /
(tr) to put in order; arrange in a desired state or condition: he settled his affairs before he died
to arrange or be arranged in a fixed or comfortable position: he settled himself by the fire
(intr) to come to rest or a halt: a bird settled on the hedge
to take up or cause to take up residence: the 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 down: fog 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 compact: the dust settled
(sometimes foll by up) to pay off or account for (a bill, debt, etc)
(tr) to decide, conclude, or dispose of: to settle an argument
(intr; often foll by on or upon) to agree or fix: to 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, etc: he 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)
Origin of settle
1- See also settle down, settle for, settle in, settle with
Derived forms of settle
- settleable, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for settle (2 of 2)
/ (ˈsɛtəl) /
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
Origin of settle
2Collins 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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