dictate
verb (used with object)
to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record.
will dictate
-
future tenseof dictate.future tense
Used to express actions, events, or states that have not yet occurred but are expected to happen.
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.
His comments will dictate the path forward for a tech-crazed stock market and an economy hoping the boom won’t go bust.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
The timing of his return to the mound will dictate how long the build-up will be.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
Then the market will dictate, and Emery may be required to work some more magic.
From BBC ● May 7, 2026
The stock has also been caught up in the sector-wide software selloff of recent months, and Stucky believes Microsoft’s Copilot adoption trends will dictate the sentiment for software at large this earnings season.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 26, 2026
“I’m going to ask you one more question, Ms. Candice Miller. Just to be clear, how you answer will dictate what happens next.”
From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson
