dictated; dictating
1
: to utter words to be transcribed : to give dictation
dictate for the stenographer
2
: to speak or act domineeringly : prescribe
resents being dictated to
1
: to speak or read for a person to transcribe or for a machine to record
dictating a letter to her secretary
2
a
: to issue as an order
b
: to impose, pronounce, or specify authoritatively
dictate the terms of surrender
… the league will dictate policy for all teams …—
Alex Yannis
Alex Yannis
c
: to require or determine necessarily
injuries dictated the choice of players
The weather will dictate how long we stay.
1
a
: an authoritative rule, prescription, or injunction
the dictates of the party
b
: a ruling principle
according to the dictates of your conscience
2
: a command by one in authority
papal dictates
Synonyms
Examples of dictate in a Sentence
Verb
She's dictating a letter to her secretary.
They insisted on being able to dictate the terms of surrender.
Tradition dictates that the youngest member should go first.
The basket's function dictates its size and shape.
Noun
a starchily worded dictate from on high concerning the company's dress code
Recent Examples on the Web
Katie Woo, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
While the country’s flag code dictates flags remain lowered following a president’s death, the code is not mandatory.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2025
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2025
The conservative preference for habit and custom over dictate and fiat recognizes that the plant must fit the soil.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dictate 
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Verb
After all, their performance will dictate if fans come on board.
—Katie Woo, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
While the country’s flag code dictates flags remain lowered following a president’s death, the code is not mandatory.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2025
Noun
But his drinking problem, which Susan first noticed on the Dirty Dancing tour a dozen years earlier, had grown into a major issue on a tour that, according to a Starr dictate, was 100 percent dry.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2025
The conservative preference for habit and custom over dictate and fiat recognizes that the plant must fit the soil.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dictate
Dictionary Entries Near dictate
Cite this Entry
“Dictate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictate. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dictate
2 of 2 nounˈdik-ˌtāt
: an order or direction given with authority : command
the dictates of conscience
Etymology
Verb
from Latin dictatus, past participle of dictare "to assert, dictate," from dicere "to say" — related to dictionary, predict, verdict
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