Meaning & use
decisions
Last updated
“decisions” is a form of “decision”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nouncountable
Choices or conclusions reached after thinking about what to do.
Grammar: Countable noun; use make a decision or make decisions. Do not say do a decision.
Patterns
- make a decision
- make decisions
- reach a decision
- decisions about something
The committee made several important decisions about the budget.
She has to make decisions quickly in her job as a nurse.
We reached a decision after hours of discussion.
nouncountablelegal
Official rulings or judgments made by a court or similar authority.
Grammar: Often used in legal contexts with verbs like announce, uphold, or overturn.
Patterns
- court decisions
- announce a decision
- uphold a decision
The Supreme Court's decisions set a precedent for lower courts.
The judge announced her decision after a short break.
Word forms
| singular | decision |
|---|
Common combinations
- make a decision
- I need to make a decision by Friday.
- reach a decision
- After long talks, they reached a decision.
- final decision
- The final decision rests with the manager.
- difficult decision
- Leaving her hometown was a difficult decision.
- decision-making
- Good decision-making requires clear information.
Synonyms and how they differ
- choice
- Choice often suggests picking between options, while decision stresses the act of judging or settling something.
- conclusion
- Conclusion is the result you arrive at after reasoning; decision is the commitment to act on it.
- judgment
- Judgment focuses on the ability to evaluate; decision focuses on the specific choice made.
Opposites
Word family
- decide verb
- To make a choice after thinking.
- decisive adjective
- Able to make decisions quickly and firmly.
- indecisive adjective
- Unable to make decisions easily.
Commonly confused: decisions or decisions vs. choices?
decisions vs decisions vs. choices
Choices are the options available; decisions are the acts of selecting among them. You make a decision, but you have a choice.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'decisions' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct verb with 'decision' is 'make': make a decision. 'Do a decision' is not idiomatic; 'take a decision' is possible in British English but less common and not standard in American English; 'give a decision' means to announce one, not to choose.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “decisions”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.