decide

/dɪˈsaɪd/

/dɪˈsaɪd/

Other forms: decided; deciding; decides

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.

Definitions of decide

1. verb

   reach, make, or come to a decision about something
   “We finally decided after lengthy deliberations”

   synonyms: determine, make up one's mind

   types:

   measure, measure out, mensurate

   determine the measurements of something or somebody, take measurements of

   choose, pick out, select, take

   pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

   will

   determine by choice

   seal

   decide irrevocably

   purpose, resolve

   reach a decision

   decree, rule

   decide with authority

   orient, orientate

   determine one's position with reference to another point

   adjudicate, judge, try

   put on trial or hear a case and sit as the judge at the trial of

   govern, order, regularise, regularize, regulate

   bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations

   standardise, standardize

   cause to conform to standard or norm

   empanel, impanel, panel

   select from a list

   shoot

   measure the altitude of by using a sextant

   triangulate

   measure by using trigonometry

   caliper, calliper

   measure the diameter of something with calipers

   anoint

   choose by or as if by divine intervention

   field

   select (a team or individual player) for a game

   sieve, sift

   distinguish and separate out

   draw

   select or take in from a given group or region

   dial

   choose by means of a dial

   go, plump

   give support (to) or make a choice (of) one out of a group or number

   pick

   select carefully from a group

   elect

   choose

   excerpt, extract, take out

   take out of a literary work in order to cite or copy

   cull out, winnow

   select desirable parts from a group or list

   cream off, skim off

   pick the best

   pick over, sieve out

   separate or remove

   assign, set apart, specify

   select something or someone for a specific purpose

   single out

   select from a group

   override, overrule, overthrow, overturn, reverse

   disagree with a lawyer's objection and allow the opposing side to go ahead with a line of questioning

   think of

   choose in one's mind

   calibrate

   measure the caliber of

   define, determine, fix, limit, set, specify

   decide upon or fix definitely

   rule in, rule out

   include or exclude by determining judicially or in agreement with rules

   guide, guide on

   use as a guide

   reorient, reorientate

   orient once again, after a disorientation

   adopt, espouse, follow

   choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans

   screen, screen out, sieve, sort

   examine in order to test suitability

   vote in

   elect in a voting process

   elect

   select by a vote for an office or membership

   nominate, propose

   put forward; nominate for appointment to an office or for an honor or position

   vote

   express one's preference for a candidate or for a measure or resolution; cast a vote

   court-martial

   subject to trial by court-martial

   district, zone

   regulate housing in; of certain areas of towns
2. verb

   influence or determine
   “The vote in New Hampshire often decides the outcome of the Presidential election”

   type of:

   determine, influence, mold, regulate, shape

   shape or influence; give direction to
3. verb

   bring to an end; settle conclusively
   “The case was decided”

   “The judge decided the case in favor of the plaintiff”

   synonyms: adjudicate, dispose, resolve, settle

   types:

   judge

   determine the result of (a competition)

   adjust

   decide how much is to be paid on an insurance claim

   referee, umpire

   be a referee or umpire in a sports competition

   type of:

   end, terminate

   bring to an end or halt
4. verb

   cause to decide
   “This new development finally decided me!”

   type of:

   cause, get, have, induce, make, stimulate

   cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner