dictate
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.
See Examples For:
He refused to let Fox’s presenters dictate the terms of the conversation.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026
He also said the EU, as von der Leyen pledged last month, should "work more closely with middle powers like Canada, which share an interest in rules that no power or company can dictate".
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
“My role is to present the case and the supporting evidence, not dictate the verdict.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
But if a gap remains and an impasse ultimately is declared, the supervisors no longer would dictate the final offer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
“You’re being cowardly. You have a real gift, Rishi. You can’t let your parents or anyone else dictate what you do with it.”
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
“The market dictates the price,” Espino de Marotta said in an interview.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
So really, it’s the market that dictates how much they pay.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
Every plan runs on a written document, and that document dictates what you’re allowed to do with your own money.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026
The plot of “Cape Fear” dictates that this sporting tale of homicidal pettiness can only end one way.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
He dictates to them in Irish and makes me correct what they’ve written.
From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt
The economic war in the Persian Gulf is dictated as much by how much the countries in the region can move their exports over land rather than through the Strait of Hormuz.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
This is often because studios themselves dictated the stories and angles being written about.
From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2026
Nor should it be dictated by your RMDs.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
If no one claims the prize by next Thursday, the money will go to public schools in California as dictated by the statute.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
The church was an integral part of British society, and it dictated the rules of the class-ordered society that they all lived in.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
"There's no magic line" dictating what defines a nation, he told AFP, but noted Alberta's case for nationhood appears harder to make than that of other groups, like Catalans, Scots and French-speaking Canadians in Quebec.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
“When you go ‘pace,’ you’re dictating what the defense does.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
"To describe that as dictating is not only unfair on the Ulster Farmers' Union, it's also actually somewhat disingenuous."
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
Two years of dictating that everyone commute into work on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays was hurting the morale as well as the productivity of many.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
The house was taking over again, and dictating to him about what he must feel and do.
From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill
Vocabulary lists containing dictate
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 3
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You Can Say That Again: Dic and Dict
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The New SAT: The Language of the Test
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