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.

One feature of UK energy prices is that the price of gas often dictates the price of electricity, as gas-fired power stations are often the bit of energy that helps supply meet demand.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

The U.K. government can deploy the king abroad to woo foreign governments, but convention dictates politicians cannot embarrass the monarch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

It makes for an exhausting, agonizing, anxiety-ridden existence that dictates how John exists in public.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 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

“Over the years military planners have arrived at a rule of thumb which dictates that functional fighting units cannot be substantially larger than 200 men,” Dunbar writes.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell