Definitions

decide

[dih-sahyd] / dɪˈsaɪd /

VERB

make a determination; settle an issue

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agree choose conclude determine elect end establish resolve rule select set vote

STRONG

adjudge adjudicate award cinch clinch conjecture decree figure gather guess judge mediate opt pick poll purpose surmise tap will

WEAK

arrive at conclusion call shots cast the die come to agreement come to conclusion come to decision commit oneself draw a conclusion fix upon form opinion go down line have final word make a decision make up mind reach decision take a stand

Antonyms

STRONGEST

begin commence refuse start unsettle waver

STRONG

grow plant

WEAK

defer delay hesitate postpone procrastinate put off wait

Usage

What are other ways to say decide?

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 determine is to arrive at a conclusion after reasoning or observation: He determined that there was no available path to victory. To resolve is to show firmness of purpose: He resolved to ask for a promotion.

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.

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

Hall describes stumbling on the ChatGPT logs of her boyfriend of 5 months and finding that he had asked the LLM to decide, based on the concerns he input, whether he should continue their relationship.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

Wednesday's double-hearing also laid bare the circumstances in which some migrants decide to risk the Channel crossing.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

I decide to pay a surprise visit to Mr. Harris.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Vocabulary lists containing decide

TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)

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5th Grade Government Vocabulary, List 1

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"Zlateh the Goat"

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