Decide — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Decide (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration

   "they decided to go out for pizza after the movie was over"

   similar: choose, conclude, determine, figure, name, opt, resolve, settle (on or upon)
   related: decree, rule, cull, elect, handpick, pick, prefer, select, single (out), adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, find, judge, referee, rule (on), umpire, chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, debate, deliberate, entertain, meditate, mull (over), ponder, question, ruminate, study, think (about or over), weigh
   near: abstain, decline, refuse, reject, turn down, delay, halt, hesitate, stall, temporize, shilly-shally, vacillate, waffle, waver

2. to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)

   "the judge decided that the defendant was not liable for damages"

   similar: adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, determine, judge, referee, rule (on), settle, umpire
   related: consider, deem, deliberate, hear, ponder, weigh, size up, mediate, moderate, negotiate, prosecute, try, find (for or against), conclude, resolve, redetermine, rejudge
   near: equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, skirt

3. to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of

   "we waited for our captors to decide our fate"

   similar: agree (on), arrange, fix, set, settle, dispose of
   related: contract, pledge, promise, blueprint, calculate, chart, concert, design, draft, frame, hammer out, intrigue, lay out, maneuver, map (out), plan, program, schematize, scheme, shape, square away, work out, choose, conclude, determine, figure, opt, resolve, affirm, approve, authorize, clear, confirm, OK, sanction, warrant, close, complete, end, finalize, finish, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up, bargain, chaffer, deal, dicker, haggle, horse-trade, negotiate
   near: abort, call, call off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke, differ (over), disagree (with), counter, debate, object, oppose, protest, resist, contest, dispute

4. to make final, definite, or beyond dispute

   "the huge sum that they were offering decided the matter: we would sell the house"

   similar: clinch, determine, nail, settle
   related: demonstrate, establish, nail (down), prove, show, affirm, assure, ensure, insure, secure, define, specify, state, stipulate, clarify, clear (up), illuminate, conclude, end, finish
   near: confuse, muddle, muddy, unsettle

5. to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information

   "the commanding officer decided that the soldier was indeed telling the truth"

   similar: conclude, deduce, derive, extrapolate, gather, infer, judge, make out, reason, understand, draw a conclusion
   related: assume, suppose, conjecture, guess, speculate, surmise, construe, interpret, read, contemplate, philosophize, rationalize, think, ascertain, dope (out), find out