Settle — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈse-tᵊl/ set·tle

Meaning & Definition of Settle

Settle (verb)

  1. to place so as to stay
  2. to establish in residence
  3. to furnish with inhabitants, colonize

Settle (noun)

  1. a wooden bench with arms, a high solid back, and an enclosed foundation which can be used as a chest

Settle (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid)

    "the light rain will settle the dust in the air"

    "careful handling will settle the lees in the bottom of the wine bottle"

    similar: lay, sediment
    related: filter, screen, sieve, sift, strain, clarify, clear, resettle
    opposite: raise
    near: agitate, disturb, mix, stir

  2. to supply with inhabitants

    "the region was originally settled by farmers"

    similar: colonize, people, populate
    related: inhabit, move (to), relocate (to)
    opposite: depopulate, unpeople

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

    "settled the lawsuit in favor of the defendant"

    similar: adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, decide, determine, judge, referee, rule (on), 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

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

    "settled their wedding plans without any major disagreements"

    similar: agree (on), arrange, decide, fix, set, 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

  5. to come to rest after descending from the air

    "birds settling on the branches of the maple tree"

    similar: alight, land, light, perch, roost, touch down
    related: belly-land, crash-land
    opposite: blast off, take off
    near: arise, ascend, climb, rise, float, fly, glide, plane, soar, wing, hang, hover

  6. to establish or place comfortably or snugly

    "settled the sleeping baby into her crib"

    similar: ensconce, install, lodge, nestle, perch, roost
    related: deploy, emplace, fix, locate, park, plant, position, set, situate, station, anchor, bivouac, camp, camp (out), burrow, curl up, dig in, harbor, house

  7. to free from distress or disturbance

    "a hot meal settled the children down"

    similar: becalm, calm, compose, lull, lullaby, quiet, quieten (chiefly British), salve, soothe, still, tranquilize
    related: appease, conciliate, hush, mollify, pacify, placate, allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, lay, mitigate, quell, relax, relieve, solace, narcotize, sedate, stupefy
    opposite: agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, key (up), perturb, upset, vex
    near: aggravate, heighten, intensify, arouse, excite, foment, incite, rouse, stir (up), work up

  8. to gain emotional or mental control of

    "settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst"

    similar: calm, collect, compose, contain, control, re-collect
    related: hold back, restrain, rally, recover, lull, quiet, soothe, still, tranquilize

  9. to give what is owed for

    "settle a debt"

    similar: ante (up), balance, clear, discharge, foot, liquidate, meet, pay, pay off, pay up, pony up, quit, recompense, spring (for), stand
    opposite: repudiate

  10. to make final, definite, or beyond dispute

    "this information should settle the question of who is right"

    similar: clinch, decide, determine, nail
    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

  11. to stop the noise or speech of

    "settled the class with a firm quiet!"

    similar: dumb, extinguish, hush, mute, quell, quiet, quieten (chiefly British), shush, shut up, silence, squelch, still
    near: agitate, stir

Related Entry: Settle (down) (verb)

Settle (down) is a different word from Settle. The synonyms below are for settle (down), not for settle.

  1. to become still and orderly

    "settle down and get to work, please"

    similar: calm (down), chill out (slang), cool, hush, pipe down, quiet, cool it
    related: dry up, relax, tranquilize, unwind, zone out
    opposite: act up, carry on, cut up
    near: clown (around), fool around, horse around, monkey (around), show off, skylark

Related Entry: Settle (on or upon) (verb)

Settle (on or upon) is a different word from Settle. The synonyms below are for settle (on or upon), not for settle.

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

    "the car buyer settled on that brand only after a lot of research"

    similar: choose, conclude, decide, determine, figure, name, opt, resolve
    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

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Settle

The most common words with a similar meaning to Settle:

Chiefly British: quieten
lay, sediment, colonize, people, populate, adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, decide, determine, judge, referee, rule (on), umpire, agree (on), arrange, fix, set, alight, land, light, perch, roost, touch down, ensconce, install, lodge, nestle, becalm, calm, compose, lull, lullaby, quiet, salve, soothe, still, tranquilize, collect, contain

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Settle

Words with the opposite meaning of Settle:

raise, depopulate, unpeople, blast off, take off, agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, key (up), perturb, upset, vex, repudiate

Related Words for Settle

filter, screen, sieve, sift, strain, clarify, resettle, inhabit, move (to), relocate (to), consider, deem, deliberate, hear, ponder, weigh, size up, mediate, moderate, negotiate, prosecute, try, find (for or against), conclude, resolve, redetermine, rejudge, contract, pledge, promise

Near Antonyms of Settle

mix, stir, equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, skirt, abort, call, call off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke, differ (over), disagree (with), counter, debate, object, oppose, protest, resist, contest, dispute, arise, ascend, climb, rise, float, fly

Word Forms of Settle

Inflections: settled, settling

Derived words: settleable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Settle

Middle English, to seat, bring to rest, come to rest, from Old English setlan, from setl seat

First known use: 1515t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Settle

  • Topics: Home & Daily Life, Common Actions / Verbs

Words & Phrases Containing Settle

settle for, settle one's hash, settle the stomach, settle accounts with, settle a lawsuit, settle a/the score, settle down, settle one's account

Frequently Asked Questions about Settle

What does "Settle" mean?

"Settle" means to place so as to stay. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to place so as to stay. It has 11 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Settle"?

Other words for "Settle" include lay, sediment, colonize, people, populate, adjudge, adjudicate and arbitrate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Settle" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Settle"?

There are 197 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Settle". Common alternatives include lay, sediment, colonize, people, populate, adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, decide and determine.

What is the opposite of "Settle"?

Antonyms of "Settle" include raise, depopulate, unpeople, blast off, take off, agitate, discompose and disquiet. Near antonyms include mix, stir, equivocate and hedge.

How do you use "Settle" in a sentence?

Examples of "Settle" in a sentence: "the light rain will settle the dust in the air"; "careful handling will settle the lees in the bottom of the wine bottle"; "the region was originally settled by farmers".

Is "Settle" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Settle" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Settle"?

"Settle" is pronounced /ˈse-tᵊl/ and divided into syllables as set·tle.

What is the origin of the word "Settle"?

"Settle" comes from Middle English, to seat, bring to rest, come to rest, from Old English setlan, from setl seat. First known use: 1515t.