decide
2 ENTRIES FOUND:
decides;
decided;
deciding
decides;
decided;
deciding
Britannica Dictionary definition of DECIDE
1
a
:
to make a choice about (something)
:
to choose (something) after thinking about it
— often followed by to + verb
— often + what, where, whether, if, etc.
[+ object]
-
He decided that dinner would be at 7 o'clock, and asked guests to arrive at 6.
-
She decided to go along with us.
-
They have decided not to leave.
-
Have you decided what you'd like for breakfast?
-
He is having trouble deciding which school to go to.
-
She says she'll decide by January whether (or not) to run for office.
-
We are deciding if we should stay.
[no object]
-
She is having difficulty deciding about the offer.
-
I decided in favor of the other candidate. [=I chose the other candidate]
-
Voters must decide between the two candidates. [=voters must choose one or the other candidate]
-
You have to decide for yourself. [=you are the only one who can decide]
-
I decided against telling her. [=I decided not to tell her]
b
:
to choose whether or not to believe (something) after thinking about it
:
to reach a conclusion about (something) because of evidence
[+ object]
-
They decided that he was right.
-
I am trying to decide if it's warm enough for swimming.
[no object]
-
“Do you think she is telling the truth?” “I'm not sure. I'm still trying to decide.”
2
:
to cause (something) to end in a particular way
:
to determine what the result of (something) will be
— often used as deciding
[+ object]
-
A few hundred votes could decide the election.
-
One blow decided the fight.
-
This battle could very well decide the war.
[no object]
-
Will the business be successful? Let the public decide.
-
the deciding game in the series [=the game that determines who wins the series]
-
The vice president will cast the deciding vote.
3
law
:
to end (a court case) in a particular way
:
to make a judgment in a court of law
[+ object]
-
The case will be decided by the Supreme Court.
[no object]
-
The court decided against the defendant. [=the defendant was found guilty]
-
The court decided in favor of the plaintiff. = (less commonly) The court decided for the plaintiff. [=the plaintiff won the case]
decide on/upon
[phrasal verb]
decide on/upon (something)
:
to choose (something) after thinking about the possible choices
-
He decided on blue rather than green.
-
We looked at all the cats in the pet store and finally decided on a little black-and-white one.
-
I am having trouble deciding on a gift for them.
deciding factor
1
:
something that causes you to make a particular decision
-
The deciding factor was cost. [=the decision was based on cost; the least expensive option was chosen]
-
His lack of experience was the deciding factor in my decision not to hire him.
2
:
something that causes something to end a particular way
-
His home run was the deciding factor in the game. [=his home run won the game]
