decide
HighNeutral
Definition
Meaning
To reach a conclusion or make a choice after consideration.
To settle something conclusively, to determine an outcome, or to cause someone to make a choice.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a conclusion after deliberation, often ending uncertainty. Can be transitive (decide something) or intransitive (she decided).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The past tense 'decided' and present participle 'deciding' are standard. Usage patterns with prepositions ('decide on', 'decide against', 'decide to') are identical.
Connotations
Identical. Suggests finality and resolution.
Frequency
Equally high-frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] decide to [infinitive][subject] decide on [object][subject] decide that [clause][subject] decide against [object/gerund][subject] decide [wh-word clause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “decide once and for all”
- “the die is cast (once a decision is made)”
- “to make up one's mind”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for strategic choices, investments, hiring, and policy making (e.g., 'The board decided to expand into Asia').
Academic
Used in conclusions of arguments or research findings (e.g., 'The study decided the issue in favour of the new theory').
Everyday
Common for personal choices about activities, purchases, and plans (e.g., 'I can't decide what to have for lunch').
Technical
In computing/legal contexts, implies a formal or algorithmic resolution (e.g., 'The circuit decides the output based on the input').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We need to decide which film to see at the cinema.
- They decided against having a garden party due to the weather.
- Let me decide what goes in the salad.
American English
- We need to decide which movie to see at the theater.
- They decided against having a backyard barbecue because of the weather.
- Let me decide what goes in the salad.
adverb
British English
- She nodded decidedly.
- He is decidedly unhappy with the result.
American English
- She nodded decidedly.
- He is decidedly unhappy with the result.
adjective
British English
- She has a very decided opinion on the matter.
- He spoke in a decided tone.
American English
- She has a very decided opinion on the matter.
- He spoke in a decided tone.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I decided to buy the blue shirt.
- They decided to go home early.
- Can you decide what you want to eat?
- After a long discussion, we decided on a plan.
- She decided against studying abroad this year.
- The jury took hours to decide the verdict.
- The committee will decide upon the allocation of funds next week.
- I can't decide whether to accept the job offer or wait for a better one.
- His testimony decided the outcome of the trial.
- The arbitrator's ruling decided the dispute in favour of the claimant.
- Several factors decided her against pursuing a career in law.
- The vote was so close that a single ballot decided the election.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DE-CIDE: Imagine you must CUT (CIDE, from Latin 'caedere' to cut) the DEbate in your head to make a choice.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECISION IS A JOURNEY (decide on a path, at a crossroads), DECISION IS A SEPARATION (cutting off other options).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'decide' for simple physical actions of 'doing' or 'making' (use 'make'/'do').
- Don't confuse 'decide on' (выбрать что-то конкретное) with 'decide about' (принимать решение касательно).
- Russian 'решить задачу' is 'solve a problem', not 'decide a problem'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I decided going.' Correct: 'I decided to go.'
- Incorrect: 'We must decide it.' (when meaning 'decide on it') Correct: 'We must decide (on it).'
- Incorrect: 'It was decided from the committee.' Correct: 'It was decided by the committee.'
Practice
Quiz
Which preposition is INCORRECT with 'decide'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Decide' emphasizes the mental process of reaching a conclusion, often after thought. 'Choose' focuses more on the act of selecting from available options. You decide *what to do*, then choose *which option* to take.
No, it's an action verb. It describes the action of making a decision. You can use it in continuous forms correctly (e.g., 'I am deciding what to do').
Yes, it can be intransitive. For example: 'We've argued enough; now you must decide.' The object (what is being decided) is understood from context.
The most common structures are: 1) decide + to-infinitive ('He decided to leave'). 2) decide + on/against + noun/gerund ('They decided on a plan'). 3) decide + that-clause ('I decided that it was time').