decide

[dih-sahyd] /dɪˈsaɪd/
verb (used with object), decided, deciding.
1.
to solve or conclude (a question, controversy, or struggle) by giving victory to one side:
The judge decided the case in favor of the plaintiff.
2.
to determine or settle (something in dispute or doubt):
to decide an argument.
3.
to bring (a person) to a decision; persuade or convince:
The new evidence decided him.
verb (used without object), decided, deciding.
4.
to settle something in dispute or doubt:
The judge decided in favor of the plaintiff.
5.
to make a judgment or determine a preference; come to a conclusion.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English deciden < Middle French decider < Latin dēcīdere literally, to cut off, equivalent to dē- de- + -cīdere (combining form of caedere to cut)
Related forms
decider, noun
predecide, verb (used with object), predecided, predeciding.
redecide, verb, redecided, redeciding.
Synonyms
1. Decide, resolve, determine imply settling upon a purpose and being able to adhere to it. To decide is to make up one's mind as to what shall be done and the way to do it: He decided to go today. To resolve is to show firmness of purpose: He resolved to ask for a promotion. To determine is to make up one's mind and then to stick to a fixed or settled purpose: determined to maintain his position at all costs.
Examples from the web for decide
  • The government has yet to decide on the size of that budget and how it will be financed.
  • If you decide to remove a big tree, make sure you are allowed to.
  • We were the first nation to reserve for ourselves the right to decide whether a controversy is domestic or international.
  • He struggles to decide whether the treatment will help or destroy his sense of self.
  • If zoos decide not to save "ugly" animals, they could go extinct.
  • They sit down at home, wherever they are, and decide whether to spend another year motoring in their 40-foot recreational vehicle.
  • First decide where you want to spend your time outdoors.
  • But the first volume is yours to keep without obligation, no matter what you decide.
  • After a lifetime of visiting exotic places, it's hard to decide what single spot means the most to me.
  • So let us encourage individuals at home and nations abroad to do more for themselves, to decide more for themselves.
British Dictionary definitions for decide

decide

/dɪˈsaɪd/
verb
1.
(may take a clause or an infinitive as object; when intransitive, sometimes foll by on or about) to reach a decision: decide what you want, he decided to go
2.
(transitive) to cause (a person) to reach a decision: the weather decided me against going
3.
(transitive) to determine or settle (a contest or question): he decided his future plans
4.
(transitive) to influence decisively the outcome of (a contest or question): Borg's stamina decided the match
5.
(intransitive; foll by for or against) to pronounce a formal verdict
Word Origin
C14: from Old French decider, from Latin dēcīdere, literally: to cut off, from caedere to cut
Word Origin and History for decide
v.

late 14c., "to settle a dispute," from Old French decider, from Latin decidere "to decide, determine," literally "to cut off," from de- "off" (see de-) + caedere "to cut" (see -cide). For Latin vowel change, see acquisition. Sense is of resolving difficulties "at a stroke." Meaning "to make up one's mind" is attested from 1830. Related: Decided; deciding.