decides

VERB

make a determination; settle an issue

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agree choose conclude determine elect end establish resolve rule select set vote

STRONG

adjudge adjudicate award cinch clinch conjecture decree figure gather guess judge mediate opt pick poll purpose surmise tap will

WEAK

arrive at conclusion call shots cast the die come to agreement come to conclusion come to decision commit oneself draw a conclusion fix upon form opinion go down line have final word make a decision make up mind reach decision take a stand

Antonyms

STRONGEST

begin commence refuse start unsettle waver

STRONG

grow plant

WEAK

defer delay hesitate postpone procrastinate put off wait

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The winners will not be just those who generate the laser beam, but those who control the energy behind it and the intelligence that decides when to fire.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 29, 2026

And who decides whether a Scottish accent is 'real' or not?

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

Lily decides to ostracize herself before eventually being saved — and redeemed — by the rest of the toys, but by then, it’s too late.

From Salon • Jun. 21, 2026

“It’s a person who decides whether to activate the system or not.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

What if Maddy decides she’s not my friend, then bottles up all the time we’ve spent together and puts it away on a shelf to gather dust?

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan