decidede‧cide /dɪˈsaɪd/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 
Has anything been decided yet?decide to do something Tina’s decided to go to Rome for her holidays.decide (that) It was decided that four hospitals should close.decide who/what/whether etc I can’t decide whether I like him or not. People have a right to decide how to spend their own money.decide between something A meeting was called to decide between the three candidates.decide for yourself (=make your own decision) You must decide for yourself. The trainees decide among themselves what programs to take.decide against/in favour of (doing) something He eventually decided against telling her. After a long discussion, they decided in favour of (=chose) the older applicant.GRAMMARIn more formal English, you can say it is decided that something should be done: · It was decided that he should resign.2[transitive] to influence a situation or event so that a particular result is produced: It was the penalty kick that decided the match.3[transitive] to be the reason for someone making a particular choice: Taxes could be the deciding factor for millions of floating voters.decide somebody to do something The look he gave her decided her not to ask.4[intransitive, transitive] law to make an official or legal judgment: The Commission will have the power to decide disputes.decide in favour of/against somebody If the Parole Board decides in his favour, the prisoner will be released.decide on/upon something phrasal verb to choose something or someone after thinking carefully: Have you decided on a date for the wedding?THESAURUSdecide to make a choice to do something: · We decided to send our son to a boarding school.· I decided to go home early.make up your mind to decide something, especially after thinking about it for a long time. Make up your mind is less formal than decide and is mainly used in spoken English: · Have you made up your mind about where you’ll go on holiday?choose to do something to decide to do something – especially when this is different from what people expect or tell you to do: · She chose to ignore my advice.· More young couples are choosing not to marry.make a decision to decide after thinking carefully about something, especially about something that is very important: · They made a decision not to have children.resolve formal to decide that you will definitely do something, especially because you think it will be better for you, or because of your past experiences: · She resolved to work hard at school.determine formal to officially decide what something shall be: · Each hospital can determine its own pay rates.come down in favour of something British English, come down in favor of something American English to decide to support a particular plan, argument etc – used especially about groups of people: · Eight of the ten committee members came down in favour of the changes.come to/reach a decision to officially decide about something important after discussing and carefully considering it – used especially about groups of people: · After two hours of discussion, the committee had still not come to a decision on any of the proposals.
WORD ORIGINdecide
Origin:
1300-1400 French décider, from Latin decidere ‘to cut off, decide’VERB TABLE
decide
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | decide |
| he, she, it | decides | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | decided |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have decided |
| he, she, it | has decided | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had decided |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will decide |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have decided |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am deciding |
| he, she, it | is deciding | |
| you, we, they | are deciding | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was deciding |
| you, we, they | were deciding | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been deciding |
| he, she, it | has been deciding | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been deciding |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be deciding |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been deciding |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A 3-point basket in the final 5 seconds decided the game.
- Citizens must be allowed to decide their own futures.
- For a second he thought about using his gun, but decided against it.
- Have you decided whether to apply for that job?
- I've decided that I really must stop smoking.
- I don't mind which restaurant we go to. You decide.
- I listened to his story and decided he was probably telling the truth.
- I was so tired that I decided against going to the party after all.
- If you decide not to accept our offer, let me know.
- Martha took hours deciding which dress to wear.
- She decided to tell her mother all about it that evening.
- She couldn't decide whether the dress suited her or not.
- We'll support you whatever you decide.
- In the end I decided against it.
- It is the children who decide what they will communicate about.
- Or maybe you saw too much emotion around you and decided to avoid it to stay safe.
- She decided she could live on her reserves for a few hours, and went back to the hospital.
- The Court of Appeal had two reasons for deciding that Rule 1 did not apply.
- The parents decided that Sean might be more successful elsewhere, so they enrolled him in a recommended local private school.
- When you go to a place called Texas Bone, deciding what to order becomes a moot point.
- Wyatt decided to change the subject.
THESAURUS
to make a choice to do something: · We decided to send our son to a boarding school.· I decided to go home early.
to decide something, especially after thinking about it for a long time. Make up your mind is less formal than decide and is mainly used in spoken English: · Have you made up your mind about where you’ll go on holiday?
to decide to do something – especially when this is different from what people expect or tell you to do: · She chose to ignore my advice.· More young couples are choosing not to marry.
to decide after thinking carefully about something, especially about something that is very important: · They made a decision not to have children.
formal to decide that you will definitely do something, especially because you think it will be better for you, or because of your past experiences: · She resolved to work hard at school.
formal to officially decide what something shall be: · Each hospital can determine its own pay rates.
British English, come down in favor of something American English to decide to support a particular plan, argument etc – used especially about groups of people: · Eight of the ten committee members came down in favour of the changes.
to officially decide about something important after discussing and carefully considering it – used especially about groups of people: · After two hours of discussion, the committee had still not come to a decision on any of the proposals.
Longman Language Activatorto decide to do something to make a choice that you are going to do something: · We'll support you whatever you decide.decide to do something: · She decided to tell her mother all about it that evening.decide not to do something: · If you decide not to accept our offer, let me know.decide (that): · I've decided that I really must stop smoking.decide what/how/which etc: · Martha took hours deciding which dress to wear.· Have you decided whether to apply for that job?decide against (doing) something (=decide not to do something): · For a second he thought about using his gun, but decided against it.· I was so tired that I decided against going to the party after all.you decide spoken (=used to tell someone to decide): · I don't mind which restaurant we go to. You decide.
to finally decide that you will definitely do something, after thinking about it: make up your mind what/how/which etc: · I couldn't make up my mind which college I wanted to go to.make your mind up: · You'll have to make your mind up soon, or there won't be any tickets left.make up your mind to do something: · John had made up his mind to forget the past and make a fresh start.make up your mind (that): · She's finally made up her mind that she wants to study Law.
to decide to do something because you want to, without worrying about what other people think: choose to do something: · More and more young couples today are choosing not to marry.· I told him to drive more slowly, but he chose to ignore my advice.
to decide after thinking carefully about something, especially about something that is very important: · After weeks of sleepless nights, I finally made a decision.make a decision to do something: · I think you should make the decision to marry him - he's great!make a decision about: · We don't have to make a decision about that now, let's think about it for a day or two.
to officially decide about something important after discussing and carefully considering it: · Before reaching a decision the chairman usually talks to senior managers.· Let me know as soon as you arrive at a decision.arrive at/come to/reach a decision on/about: · After two hours the committee had still not come to a decision on any of the proposals.
formal to decide that you will definitely do something and will not change your mind about it, especially because you have learned from your past experiences: resolve to do something: · I resolved to keep quiet about what I had heard, since it would only cause trouble.· After the divorce she resolved never to marry again.
British /come down in favor of American to decide finally to support one plan or action instead of another: · Following a heated debate, the House of Commons came down in favour of the treaty.· The Senate came down in favor of the appointment of Judge Thomas to the US Supreme Court.
spoken if someone takes it into their head to do something , they suddenly decide to do something that you think is stupid or strange: · He took it into his head to borrow his Dad's car without asking.· For some reason they took it into their heads to go swimming at midnight.
to decide that something is true to think that something is true, after thinking about it, checking it, or looking at it: decide (that): · I listened to his story and decided he was probably telling the truth.decide whether/which/what etc: · She couldn't decide whether the dress suited her or not.
to decide that something is true after thinking carefully about all the facts: come to/reach the conclusion (that): · I came to the conclusion that there was only one way of tackling the problem.· Scientists were gradually coming to the conclusion that the disease was hereditary.
to decide that something is true or to make a judgment about it after carefully considering all the facts: conclude (that): · The jury listened carefully to the evidence and concluded that the man was guilty.· It seems reasonable to conclude that people's behaviour is influenced by what they see on TV.conclude from something that: · Davis concludes from an analysis of traffic accidents that the speed limit should be lowered.
to decide too quickly that something is true, without considering all the facts: · Don't jump to conclusions! Just because he's late doesn't mean he's had an accident.
formal to decide that something is true after examining a situation carefully and using your knowledge and experience: judge that: · Kaldor judged that the moment was exactly right to call an election.judge whether/which/what etc: · It's difficult to judge whether this is the right time to tell him.
to decide that something must be true because of other facts that you know - used to talk about scientific or technical decisions: deduce (that): · Darwin's observations led him to deduce that plants and animals could adapt to their surroundings.deduce something from something: · The police surgeon was able to deduce the probable time of death from the temperature of the body.
to form an opinion or decide that something is probably true because of other information you already know: infer that: · It is easy to infer that the marriage was not a very happy one.infer from something that: · From archaeological evidence we can reasonably infer that these people used stone cutting tools.
something that has been decided · They're going to close the school, but I think that's the wrong decision.make/take a decision · As chief executive, I often have to take difficult decisions.decision to do something · My decision to leave school when I was only 15 was the worst mistake I ever made.decision on · The board is expected to make a decision on the merger by August.big decision (=a difficult and important decision) · It's a big decision. Go home and discuss it with your wife.somebody's decision is final (=cannot be changed) · The referee's decision is final.
an official decision given by a judge or court of law: · Another opposition newspaper was suspended for three months in a court judgement on Thursday.
an official decision made by a jury in a court of law about whether someone is guilty or not guilty of a crime: reach a verdict (=make a decision): · It took the jury 24 hours of deliberations to reach their verdict.return a verdict (=officially say what your verdict is): · A second inquest in February returned a verdict of death by misadventure.a verdict of guilty/not guilty: · The foreman read the verdict of guilty fourteen times, one for each defendant.
when someone has the right or responsibility to decide especially spoken if you say it's up to someone, you mean that that person should make the decision about something, and no one else: · "Where would you like to go this evening?" "It's up to you - it's your birthday."it is up to somebody what/when/whether etc: · It's up to them what they do with their money.it is entirely up to somebody: · I think you should take the job, but of course it's entirely up to you.
formal use this when only one person or group has the right or authority to make a decision about something important: · We cannot say if he's guilty or not. That is for the court to decide.it is for somebody to decide what/whether/when etc: · It's for you to decide whether you go to university or not - not your parents.
if the ball is in your court , it is your turn to make a decision and other people are waiting for that decision: · I've told you what I think of your idea -- the ball's in your court now.· The terrorists had made their demands clear and the ball was in the government's court.
if a decision rests with someone, they have the authority to decide what should be done: · The committee has made certain recommendations, but the final decision rests with the President.· Responsibility for any military operation always rested with the commander.
able to make decisions quickly and firmly someone who is decisive can make decisions firmly and confidently, without needing too much time to talk about them or think about them: · We are still waiting for Jim to make up his mind. I wish he would be more decisive.· This country needs strong, decisive leadership.
when someone has not yet decided · "Are you selling your house?" "We haven't decided yet."have not decided what/how/whether etc · I haven't decided what I'm going to get my brother for his birthday.· Steve hasn't made up his mind whether he's in favour of the idea or not.
someone who is undecided has not yet decided about something, especially something important: · "Is Fred going to take the job?'' "He's still undecided.''be undecided about/as to: · A third of the voters remain undecided about how they will vote.be undecided what/ which/whether etc: · He hesitated, undecided whether to go or stay.
to deliberately avoid or delay making an important decision so that you are free to decide later: · New technology's getting cheaper and better all the time, so if I were you I'd keep my options open for a while.· Some presidential candidates keep their options open about policy issues in order to avoid losing any voters.
unable to decide about something to not be able to make a decision: · What colour are you going to paint your room?" "I can't make up my mind."can't decide what/whether/how etc: · It was time to go and I still couldn't decide what to wear.· We can't decide whether to go to Greece or Italy this year.
informal to be unable to decide whether or not to do a particular thing: be in two minds about: · My parents want me to study medicine, but I'm still in two minds about it.· Des was in two minds about buying the car, but the salesman persuaded him.be in two minds whether to do something: · I'm in two minds about whether to get a dog or not - it's such a responsibility.
informal to keep changing your mind - use this when you think someone is weak or stupid because they cannot decide about something: · Stop dithering and make up your mind.dither over: · Marcia was still upstairs, dithering over what she should pack.
not good at making decisions quickly and firmly · I'm sorry to be so indecisive, but can I let you know tomorrow?· An indecisive commander is unlikely to win the confidence of his men.
to finally choose something after considering all the possibilities to finally choose something, especially when making the decision has been difficult or has taken a long time: · Have you decided on a name for the baby yet?· We couldn't decide on a new color for the kitchen, so we left it white.
if someone, especially a group of people, settles on something, they finally agree to choose that thing after considering all the possibilities, discussing it etc: · Hiroaki wanted white and I wanted black, so we settled on grey.· Can we at least settle on a date for our next meeting?· We finally settled on Miami as the site of our next conference.
British informal to choose one of two or more things after thinking carefully about it, especially if you have had difficulty in deciding: · They thought of going to Madeira or mainland Spain, but finally plumped for the Canary Islands.· She looked at every sweater in the shop before plumping for a red mohair one.
to choose something after thinking carefully about all the possibilities: opt for: · After college, Ruffin opted for the Army over college.opt to do something: · When her parents divorced, Mary Ann opted to live with her father.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Taxes could be the deciding factor for millions of floating voters.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Taxes could be the deciding factor for millions of floating voters.· Don’t let chance decide the course of your career.
(=choose the date when something will happen)· Have you decided on a date for the wedding yet?
(=the reason for making a particular choice)· The closeness of the river was probably the deciding factor when the site was chosen.
· The meeting will decide the fate of the factory.· The court’s decision settled Anderson’s fate.
(=solve it)· The issue was settled after some tough negotiations.· No deadline has been set to resolve the issue.
(=be something that a particular person should decide)· This is a matter for the judge.
(=be the thing that causes the final result)· This move ultimately decided the outcome of the conflict.· At the leadership elections today, it is their votes that will determine the outcome.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· The B & Q chain has already decided to do so, and Texas Homecare is likely to follow suit.· Others said they have already decided who will get their vote, and the vice presidential selection will not sway their opinion.· Governments have already decided that they can not accept a free currency market.· Fifi had already decided on her baby doll and Carla was going through her private box of jewelry and mementos.· But Hanger had already decided to go back to his prison at Grendon near Aylesbury.· I have already decided to work only four days each week.· Expert groups in many Western countries have already decided to lobby for changes towards a healthier lifestyle without waiting for results.· Paquita had already decided something I was only beginning to imagine.
· Both the compromise issue and the cancellation issue were therefore finally decided by the Court of Appeal.· Merrell Dow finally decided the cost of defending itself outweighed the revenue produced by sales of the drug.· This can not be decided finally by the tribunal itself.· She finally decided on the ham, potato salad and deviled eggs.· She finally decided that she would go down to the garden and take a closer look.· Driven to distraction by Rampo, I finally decided to abandon him.· It was during that period that I finally decided to quit.· I finally decided to hide from the world one more night with her, and the morning be damned.
· But before raising the money you must decide how much work you are going to do yourself.· People had a right to decide how to spend their money rather than the government.· Candidates, not networks, should decide how to communicate with citizens, the Kentucky Republican said.· From that you will develop a training strategy and then be responsible for deciding how to implement that strategy.· Who gave them the privilege not of working but of deciding how to?· A committee decides how money is distributed but members can choose charities they want to support.· Who decides how resources and goods will be distributed? 5.
NOUN· If the ombudsman decides the case should be examined, investigators will get to work.· As a result, it decided to review the case on its own motion.· The examining magistrate will decide to send the case to trial, except when proof of innocence is clear.· The illusion that juries are deciding our civil cases is encouraged by the judges themselves.· At the end of the police investigation the suspect must be taken before a prosecutor who decides how the case should proceed.· But then the justices, in turn, would have to accelerate their process to decide the case before their summer recess.
· The alternative would be for the Court of Appeal to decide all the matters before it.· If two laws conflict with each other, the courts must decide on the operation of each.· The question of reasonableness would be for the court to decide.· This requirement was the issue in Wilson; the court was asked to decide whether there was a valid offer and acceptance.· Although Faulkner wanted a guarantee that the agreement was constitutionally sound, he was told the Supreme Court would decide.· The Supreme Court is expected to decide later this year whether to hear arguments in the case.· Supreme Court cases were decided differently.· Until the courts do decide these issues, educators are probably best advised to follow the federal guidelines described above.
· His luck was in, at least for the moment, but he had already decided not to tempt fate again.· And it seemed right that she should be the one to decide my fate.· Now, it seems, they will decide the fate of his government.· As in most fields, a group of senior people decides the professional fate of everyone, Strominger said.· The next few days could decide the fate of thousands of hard-pressed workers, home owners and firms.· They said public comment will help decide the fate of Fanita Ranch, which covers one-quarter of the city.· It would hand over its property to its constituent republican bodies to decide their fate independently.· An egm to decide the company's fate will be held on Thursday.
· She did not admit to herself that to leave it was also to decide the issue in advance.· He may agree, and he is often the one who decides what issues will be dealt with and when.· But late last month, Eckels said he wanted voters to have to decide the issue.· Otherwise, Nero will play at the computer while forests burn, and sentiment rather than science will decide the issue.· In early spring, 1861, the new Confederate government decided to force the issue.· It would be deciding the issue in advance, if she took it.· However, league and player representatives ultimately will decide the issue.
· The alternative would be for the Court of Appeal to decide all the matters before it.· It was finally decided to refer the matter to the departmental assemblies.· Under the Bill there will be problems deciding whether the matter has local or national significance.· Although his ministers were never permitted to decide matters on their own account, Victor Amadeus delegated wide administrative powers to them.· It is for individual members and their firms to decide what subject matter is useful and relevant to their needs.· Yet of myself I can not decide the matter.· One tactic she has used is to decide matters outside the formal Cabinet, either in committees or in informal groups.· George Pataki asked Hill to give the governor some time to decide the matter.
VERB· Assessing this potential helps the practitioner to decide how best to work with an elder when some breakdown in routine occurs.· It will help him decide, make it real, set this one thing, a place, in his near future.· So they won't even be of any use in helping them decide which subjects to specialise in.· And Sandy helped me decide that I was gon na get it straight.· All these questions can help you decide whether the ad is right or whether it needs changing.· Maybe the headship qualification will help me to decide.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► somebody has decided to honour us with their presence
- But he knew that people thought otherwise, and that their false impression was his own fault.
- But I wanted to have it on the record, in case any of you think otherwise.
- Donald thinks otherwise - and the upshot may be that he will sue.
- Many might seek to use the asylum route and, indeed, it would be naive to think otherwise.
- People think otherwise, surely, from politicians: more simply, about horror, fear, survival?
- The rich supposedly think otherwise -- and manage to pay very little.
- To say otherwise would be bitterness and we know better than to surrender.
- To think otherwise, it seems, is to reveal oneself as an ignoramus who does not know enough characters.
WORD FAMILYnoundecisionindecisionadjectivedecided ≠ undecideddecisive ≠ indecisiveadverbdecidedlydecisively ≠ indecisivelyverbdecide
1[intransitive, transitive] to make a choice or judgment about something, especially after considering all the possibilities or arguments: Has anything been decided yet?decide to do something Tina’s decided to go to Rome for her holidays.decide (that) It was decided that four hospitals should close.decide who/what/whether etc I can’t decide whether I like him or not. People have a right to decide how to spend their own money.decide between something A meeting was called to decide between the three candidates.decide for yourself (=make your own decision) You must decide for yourself. The trainees decide among themselves what programs to take.decide against/in favour of (doing) something He eventually decided against telling her. After a long discussion, they decided in favour of (=chose) the older applicant.GRAMMARIn more formal English, you can say it is decided that something should be done: · It was decided that he should resign.2[transitive] to influence a situation or event so that a particular result is produced: It was the penalty kick that decided the match.3[transitive] to be the reason for someone making a particular choice: Taxes could be the deciding factor for millions of floating voters.decide somebody to do something The look he gave her decided her not to ask.4[intransitive, transitive] law to make an official or legal judgment: The Commission will have the power to decide disputes.decide in favour of/against somebody If the Parole Board decides in his favour, the prisoner will be released.decide on/upon something phrasal verb to choose something or someone after thinking carefully: Have you decided on a date for the wedding?THESAURUSdecide to make a choice to do something: · We decided to send our son to a boarding school.· I decided to go home early.make up your mind to decide something, especially after thinking about it for a long time. Make up your mind is less formal than decide and is mainly used in spoken English: · Have you made up your mind about where you’ll go on holiday?choose to do something to decide to do something – especially when this is different from what people expect or tell you to do: · She chose to ignore my advice.· More young couples are choosing not to marry.make a decision to decide after thinking carefully about something, especially about something that is very important: · They made a decision not to have children.resolve formal to decide that you will definitely do something, especially because you think it will be better for you, or because of your past experiences: · She resolved to work hard at school.determine formal to officially decide what something shall be: · Each hospital can determine its own pay rates.come down in favour of something British English, come down in favor of something American English to decide to support a particular plan, argument etc – used especially about groups of people: · Eight of the ten committee members came down in favour of the changes.come to/reach a decision to officially decide about something important after discussing and carefully considering it – used especially about groups of people: · After two hours of discussion, the committee had still not come to a decision on any of the proposals.