decide

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive or intransitive

   To make up your mind about what to do after thinking about the choices.

   Grammar: Often followed by to and a verb: decide to leave. It can also take a clause: decide what to do.

   Patterns

   • decide to do something
   • decide whether/what/when
   • decide on something

   We decided to take the early train.

   I cannot decide what to wear tonight.

   After a long talk, she decided against the job.

2. 2verbintransitive

   To choose one thing from several by considering them, often with on or between.

   Grammar: Takes on or between: decide on a name, decide between two plans.

   Patterns

   • decide on something
   • decide between A and B

   They finally decided on a red front door.

   It is hard to decide between the two apartments.

   Have you decided on a date for the party?

3. 3verbtransitive

   To settle an issue or competition by giving a final judgment or being the deciding factor.

   Grammar: Takes an object: a judge decides a case, a goal decides a match.

   Patterns

   • decide something
   • decide the outcome

   The judge will decide the case on Friday.

   A late goal decided the match.

   One vote decided the result of the election.

Word forms

Common combinations

decide to do something

He decided to move abroad for a year.

decide on something

We decided on a small wedding.

decide against something

She decided against buying the expensive coat.

decide whether

You need to decide whether you want to stay.

decide the outcome

A single mistake can decide the outcome of the game.

make up your mind

I still have not decided, so give me a minute.

Synonyms and how they differ

choose

Choose focuses on picking one option from a set, whereas decide stresses making up your mind after thought.

determine

Determine is more formal and often means to find out or settle something firmly.

resolve

Resolve suggests a firm decision to carry out an action, often after difficulty.

settle

Settle is used for ending doubt or argument over a matter, and it is less personal than decide.

Opposites

Word family

decision noun

a choice or judgment you make

decisive adjective

able to make choices quickly, or deciding an outcome

decided adjective

clear and definite

undecided adjective

not yet having made a choice

indecisive adjective

unable to make decisions easily

Commonly confused: decide or decline?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “decide”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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