decide
Use Decide in a sentence
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verb (used with object)
1.
to solve or conclude (a question, controversy, or struggle) by giving victory to one side: The judge decided the case in favor of the plaintiff.
2.
to determine or settle (something in dispute or doubt): to decide an argument.
3.
to bring (a person) to a decision; persuade or convince: The new evidence decided him.
verb (used without object)
4.
to settle something in dispute or doubt: The judge decided in favor of the plaintiff.
5.
to make a judgment or determine a preference; come to a conclusion.
00:10
Decide
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is lollygag. Does it mean:
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
| to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable. |
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English deciden < Middle French decider < Latin dēcīdere literally, to cut off, equivalent to dē- de- + -cīdere (combining form of caedere to cut)
1350–1400; Middle English deciden < Middle French decider < Latin dēcīdere literally, to cut off, equivalent to dē- de- + -cīdere (combining form of caedere to cut)
Related forms
de·cid·er, noun
pre·de·cide, verb (used with object), pre·de·cid·ed, pre·de·cid·ing.
re·de·cide, verb, re·de·cid·ed, re·de·cid·ing.
Synonyms
1. Decide, resolve, determine imply settling upon a purpose and being able to adhere to it. To decide is to make up one's mind as to what shall be done and the way to do it: He decided to go today. To resolve is to show firmness of purpose: He resolved to ask for a promotion. To determine is to make up one's mind and then to stick to a fixed or settled purpose: determined to maintain his position at all costs.
1. Decide, resolve, determine imply settling upon a purpose and being able to adhere to it. To decide is to make up one's mind as to what shall be done and the way to do it: He decided to go today. To resolve is to show firmness of purpose: He resolved to ask for a promotion. To determine is to make up one's mind and then to stick to a fixed or settled purpose: determined to maintain his position at all costs.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To decide
Collins
World English Dictionary
decide (dɪˈsaɪd) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | (may take a clause or an infinitive as object; |
| 2. | (tr) to cause (a person) to reach a decision: the weather decided me against going |
| 3. | (tr) to determine or settle (a contest or question): he decided his future plans |
| 4. | (tr) to influence decisively the outcome of (a contest or question): Borg's stamina decided the match |
| 5. | (intr; |
| [C14: from Old French decider, from Latin dēcīdere, literally: to cut off, from caedere to cut] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
decide
late 14c., from O.Fr. decider, from L. decidere "to decide," lit. "to cut off," from de- "off" + cædere "to cut" (see cement). For L. vowel change, see acquisition. Sense is of resolving difficulties "at a stroke." Originally "to settle
a dispute;" meaning "to make up one's mind" is attested from 1830. Decided in the adj. sense of "resolute" is from 1790. Decisive is c.1600. A decided victory is one whose reality is not in doubt; a decisive one goes far toward settling some issue. Related: Decidedly (1790).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Their second response is that the people who decide where the money is spent are individual parents.
Students should decide what that foreign country will be and write stories about their first day in the country.
Patients generally do decide where to take their business, even if rates are fixed and someone else is paying.
They decide that now is the time to come out of the coffin-err, closet-and go mainstream.
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