settle

verb

ˈse-tᵊl How to pronounce settle (audio)
Definition of settlenext
1
as in to lay
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

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Relevance

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2
as in to inhabit
to supply with inhabitants the region was originally settled by farmers

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3
as in to decide
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) settled the lawsuit in favor of the defendant

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4
as in to arrange
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of settled their wedding plans without any major disagreements

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5
as in to perch
to come to rest after descending from the air birds settling on the branches of the maple tree

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6
as in to lodge
to establish or place comfortably or snugly settled the sleeping baby into her crib

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7
as in to compose
to free from distress or disturbance a hot meal settled the children down

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8
as in to contain
to gain emotional or mental control of settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst

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9
as in to pay
to give what is owed for settle a debt

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10
as in to determine
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute this information should settle the question of who is right

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11
as in to shush
to stop the noise or speech of settled the class with a firm "quiet!"

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb settle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of settle are decide, determine, resolve, and rule. While all these words mean "to come or cause to come to a conclusion," settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty.

the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy

When might decide be a better fit than settle?

While in some cases nearly identical to settle, decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.

she decided to sell her house

When is it sensible to use determine instead of settle?

The words determine and settle can be used in similar contexts, but determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.

determined the cause of the problem

When would resolve be a good substitute for settle?

In some situations, the words resolve and settle are roughly equivalent. However, resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something.

he resolved to quit smoking

In what contexts can rule take the place of settle?

Although the words rule and settle have much in common, rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.

the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of settle The lawsuit was settled the following day, according to TMZ. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2025 Friday, the wheel of lineups settled for a night on Jaquez, Robinson, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins, the Heat’s 20th lineup of the season, and, yet again, another quintet that had not played together until the opening tip. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2025 On returning to Old Trafford, Charlie Mitten scored the first United goal and, in March 1951, the debts to Davies’ widow and the brewery were finally settled. — Michael Walker, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025 Windsor had settled in, with both Backhaus and Smiley finding their groove while the Rams sputtered at the end of the quarter. — Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for settle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settle
  1. inhabit
  2. decide
  3. arrange
  4. perch
  5. lodge
  6. compose
  7. contain
  8. pay
Verb
  • These days, the old salt flats are inhabited by osprey, egrets, pelicans, herons, and more.
    — Laura Begley Bloom, AFAR Media, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Her brand, founded in 2020, inhabits a unique space in womenswear—between intergenerational handcraft and textile innovation.
    — Gemma A. Williams, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of inhabit
Verb
  • The two decided to break the mold in 2014 when Ogwumike, the #1 WNBA Draft pick that year, chose then 24-year-old Galer as her agent.
    — Okla Jones, Essence, 18 Mar. 2025
  • But New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle took exception to the bill, asserting that prosecutors already consider someone’s history including domestic violence in deciding sentences.
    — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of decide
Verb
  • Every morning, the monks gathered there, arranging themselves on the long stone benches, to discuss the matters of the day.
    — Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The institute once arranged for a Purim care package to be airdropped to a Jewish Coast Guard member 700 miles off the coast of Alaska, for example.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • Have a pint at the Gravity Bar, perched atop the Guinness Storehouse with its breathtaking view of Dublin’s skyline, or visit the experimental brewery and taste Guinness’s latest concoctions.
    — Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Take your time in the morning and settle into the property’s long, perched porches for some reading, writing or conversing with fellow guests.
    — Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of perch
Verb
  • Scientists have found microplastics lodged deep in human lungs, buried in fatty tissues, and circulating in the bloodstream.
    — Bill Frist, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The 62-year-old Georgescu lodged his appeal with Romania's Constitutional Court in the capital Bucharest, a day after the Central Election Bureau rejected his candidacy, the court said.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of lodge
Verb
  • The two-tone Schiaparelli gown is composed of a white maxi dress with sculptural halter straps that accentuate its deep V neckline and a dark blue raw denim corset.
    — Raven Brunner, People.com, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Anadol’s ‘Living Architecture’ installation is accompanied by a custom soundscape composed by Anadol’s longtime collaborator, Kerim Karaoglu which integrates sound recordings made in the museum and enhances the sensory immersion of the installation.
    — Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of compose
Verb
  • Firefighters have largely contained the most severe blazes, but fire risk remains high in parts of the region.
    — Kiley Price, WIRED, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Some of the fires are continuing, according to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry, which identified the New State fire in Pittsburg County to have burned 200 acres and 90 percent contained.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of contain
Verb
  • With money from the PAC, Hollander paid the candidates’ filing fees.
    — Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
  • From fiscal year 2015 to 2022, the Social Security Agency paid about $72 billion in improper payments, most of which were overpayments, the report noted.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of pay

Phrases Containing settle

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Cite this Entry

“Settle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settle. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on settle

Nglish: Translation of settle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about settle

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