dictateverb
uk/dɪkˈteɪt/us/ˈdɪk.teɪt/dictate verb (GIVE ORDERS)
C1 [ I or T ] to give orders, or tell someone exactly what they must do, with total authority:
The UN will dictate the terms of troop withdrawal from the region.
[ + question word ] He disagrees with the government dictating what children are taught in schools.
[ + that ] The rules dictate that only running shoes must be worn on the track.
[ T ] to influence something or make it necessary:
The party's change of policy has been dictated by its need to win back younger voters.
[ + that ] I wanted to take a year off, but my financial situation dictated that I got a job.
More examples
- Many people feel they must do whatever their doctor dictates, and never question the advice they are given.
- After dictating what is to be done, she then leaves her husband to do all the work!
- When I went to the hairdresser, my mum just dictated how it was to be cut.
- He shouldn't be allowed to dictate all the terms and conditions - it's supposed to be a democratic decision.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Giving orders & commands
- all-points bulletin
- boss
- bossyboots
- chain of command
- charge
- crack the whip idiom
- defy
- demand
- dun
- enjoin
- expect
- forget
- harry
- lay down the law idiom
- mandate
- ordain
- order sb around
- overbearing
- prescribed
- steamroller
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Controlling and being in charge
dictate verb (SPEAK)
[ I or T ] to speak something aloud for a person or machine to record what is said, so that it can be written down:
I dictated my order over the phone.
She spent the morning dictating letters to her secretary.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Office practices
- administrative
- branch
- carbon copy
- collate
- collation
- deskbound
- file
- in-house
- kaizen
- office
- office-goer
- opening hours
- paperless
- photostat
- pp
- remit
- remittance
- staple
- timesheet
- typing
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Phrasal verb(s)
dictate to sb
dictatenoun [ C usually plural ]
uk/ˈdɪk.teɪt/us/ˈdɪk.teɪt/formalan order that should be obeyed, often one that you give to yourself:
the dictates of conscience/common sense
Compare
diktat