English Explanatory Dictionary

decide

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb

To resolve (a contest, problem, dispute, etc.); to choose, determine, or settle.
To make a judgment, especially after deliberation.
To cause someone to come to a decision.
Of a Turing machine: to return a correct answer (for some yes-or-no problem) on every possible input.
To cut off; to separate.

Pronunciation

/dɪˈsaɪd/ en-us-decide.ogg

Word forms

decide decides deciding decided no-table-tags glossary decidest decidedst decideth

Etymology

From Middle English deciden, from Old French decider, from Latin dēcīdere, infinitive of dēcīdō (“cut off, decide”), from dē (“down from”) + caedō (“cut”).

Synonyms

choose up decide determine find judge posken make a decision make up one's mind take a decision work out choose pick elect accept adopt appoint cast crave designate desire embrace espouse excerpt extract favor opt poll predestine preponderate prefer separate select settle single out vote winnow divorce sever sunder becut discerp disintegrate dispart dissever divide divvy up part partition piecemeal rescind section split split up

Antonyms

jump to conclusions rush to judgement

Related words

decider decision decisive

Derived words

decidability decidable decidement decide on decide upon decidophobia misdecide predecide redecide undecide

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