dictates

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 world governing body's standard policy dictates tickets are listed for resale or transferred to another individual rather than refunded, reserving the latter option for exceptional circumstances like match cancellations.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

Hofmann said, “It is not the form that dictates the color, but the color that brings out the form.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

Protocol dictates that it is unconventional to touch a member of the royal family.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

This system dictates that fixed salaries are tied to specific draft positions, meaning a higher draft pick results in a more lucrative overall contract and a larger signing bonus.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

It appears to mean serving the dictates of greed and advantage rather than those of goodness and the desire to see justice prevail in the world.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro