v., -cid·ed, -cid·ing, -cides.

v.tr.

1. 1. To settle conclusively all contention or uncertainty about: decide a case; decided the dispute in favor of the workers.
   2. To make up one's mind about: decide what to do.
2. To influence or determine the outcome of: A few votes decided the election.
3. To cause to make or reach a decision.

v.intr.

1. To pronounce a judgment; announce a verdict.
2. To make up one's mind.

[Middle English deciden, from Old French decider, from Latin dēcīdere, to cut off, decide : dē-, de- + caedere, to cut.]

decidability de·cid·a·bil'i·ty n.
decidable de·cid'a·ble adj.
decider de·cid'er n.

SYNONYMS  decide, determine, settle, rule, conclude, resolve. These verbs mean to come to a decision. Decide is the least specific: “If two laws conflict with each other, the courts must decide on the operation of each” (John Marshall). Determine often involves somewhat narrower issues: A jury will determine the verdict. Settle stresses finality of decision: “The lama waved a hand to show that the matter was finally settled in his mind” (Rudyard Kipling). Rule implies that the decision is handed down by someone in authority: The committee ruled that changes in the curriculum should be implemented. Conclude suggests that a decision, opinion, or judgment has been arrived at after careful consideration: She concluded that the criticism was unjust. Resolve stresses the exercise of choice in making a firm decision: I resolved to lose weight.

verb

1. To make a decision about (a controversy or dispute, for example) after deliberation, as in a court of law: adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, decree, determine, judge, referee, rule, umpire. See decide/hesitate, law.
2. To make up or cause to make up one's mind: conclude, determine, resolve, settle. See decide/hesitate.

v

Definition: make a determination; settle an issue
Antonyms: defer, delay, hesitate, postpone, procrastinate, put off, wait

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A cynical view of the world by Ambrose Bierce

v.i.

To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.

    A leaf was riven from a tree,
    "I mean to fall to earth," said he.
    
    The west wind, rising, made him veer.
    "Eastward," said he, "I now shall steer."
    
    The east wind rose with greater force.
    Said he:  "'Twere wise to change my course."
    
    With equal power they contend.
    He said:  "My judgment I suspend."
    
    Down died the winds; the leaf, elate,
    Cried:  "I've decided to fall straight."
    
    "First thoughts are best?"  That's not the moral;
    Just choose your own and we'll not quarrel.
    
    Howe'er your choice may chance to fall,
    You'll have no hand in it at all.
                                                                  G.J.

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IN BRIEF: To make a choice or judgment; to make up one's mind.

He couldn't decide between fries or onion rings so he ordered both.

Common misspelling(s) of decide

• deside

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - bestemme, beslutte, overbevise
v. intr. - bestemme sig, tage en beslutning, gå ind for, vælge

idioms:

• decide on    træffe afgørelse om

Nederlands (Dutch)
beslissen, (doen) besluiten, een uitspraak doen (in), concluderen

Français (French)
v. tr. - se décider (à faire), se résoudre à faire, décider, trancher (une question), arbitrer (une dispute), régler (une affaire), juger (une divergence d'opinion), décider de (de l'avenir de qn), (Jur) statuer, déterminer qn à faire
v. intr. - se décider

idioms:

• decide on    se décider pour, choisir (finalement)

Deutsch (German)
v. - entscheiden, beschließen

idioms:

• decide on    sich dafür entscheiden

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - αποφασίζω, κρίνω, κρίνω την έκβαση, προκρίνω, καθορίζω, αποφασίζω, καταλήγω, πείθω, αποφαίνομαι

idioms:

• decide on    αποφαίνομαι επί, παίρνω απόφαση για

Italiano (Italian)
decidere, giudicare

idioms:

• decide on/upon    stabilire

Português (Portuguese)
v. - decidir

idioms:

• decide on    decidir

Русский (Russian)
решать

idioms:

• decide on    принимать решение

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - decidir, resolver, emitir un juicio
v. intr. - decidir, resolver, emitir un juicio

idioms:

• decide on    determinar, optar por

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - bestämma, avgöra, besluta(sig för)

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
决定, 使下决心, 决意, 使决断

idioms:

• decide on    决定...

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 決定, 使下決心, 決意, 使決斷
v. intr. - 決定

idioms:

• decide on    決定...

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 결정하다, 판결을 내리다, ~에게 결심을 하게 하다
v. intr. - 결심하다, 판결을 하다

idioms:

• decide on    결정하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 決定する, 決める, 決心する, 解決する, 判決を下す

idioms:

• decide on    決める

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يقرر, يحسم‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮החליט, פסק, הכריע, יישב (סכסוך)‬
v. intr. - ‮פסק בעניין‬

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