decide
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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.
-
to determine or settle (something in dispute or doubt).
to decide an argument.
-
to bring (a person) to a decision; persuade or convince.
The new evidence decided him.
verb (used without object)
-
to settle something in dispute or doubt.
The judge decided in favor of the plaintiff.
-
to make a judgment or determine a preference; come to a conclusion.
verb
-
(may take a clause or an infinitive as object; when intr, sometimes foll by on or about) to reach a decision
decide what you want
he decided to go
-
(tr) to cause (a person) to reach a decision
the weather decided me against going
-
(tr) to determine or settle (a contest or question)
he decided his future plans
-
(tr) to influence decisively the outcome of (a contest or question)
Borg's stamina decided the match
-
(intr; foll by for or against) to pronounce a formal verdict
Usage
What are other ways to say decide?
To decide is to settle something in dispute or doubt. How is it different from resolve and determine? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have decidedperfect
-
has decidedperfect 3rd person singular
-
is decidingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
am decidingprogressive 1st person singular
-
has been decidingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are decidingprogressive
-
have been decidingperfect progressive
-
decidingparticiple
-
decidessingular 3rd person
Past
-
had decidedperfect
-
had been decidingperfect progressive
-
was decidingprogressive singular
-
were decidingprogressive plural
-
decidedparticiple
-
decidedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of decide
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English deciden, from Middle French decider, from Latin dēcīdere, literally, “to cut off,” equivalent to dē- de- + -cīdere (combining form of caedere “to strike, cut down”; see -cide ( def. ))
Explanation
To decide is to make up your mind to do (or not do) something. People decide hundreds of things a day, from what to eat to what TV shows to watch. Deciding involves making decisions — choosing what to do. There are a lot of things in life to decide, such as where to live, what school to go to, where to apply for a job, and what kind of clothes to buy and wear. At any restaurant, there are hundreds of options: you have to decide which is right for you. You can also say that if a touchdown ended a game, it decided the game.
Vocabulary lists containing decide
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
5th Grade Government Vocabulary, List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Zlateh the Goat"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Wednesday's double-hearing also laid bare the circumstances in which some migrants decide to risk the Channel crossing.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
The next few months will decide what the Fed will do next.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
While civil-rights laws prohibit banks from discrimination in connection with their lending, firms have wide discretion around whom they decide to bank.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
Last month’s infodump of an Armed Forces report listing 209 sightings of unidentified objects was announced with a presidential tweet that “the people can decide for themselves.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
“I just thought he might decide to live up to the honor,” Miss Philips explained.
From "The Best School Year Ever" by Barbara Robinson
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.
