settle

1 of 2

verb

set·​tle ˈse-tᵊl How to pronounce settle (audio)
settled; settling ˈset-liŋ How to pronounce settle (audio)
ˈse-tᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

1
: to place so as to stay
2
a
: to establish in residence
b
: to furnish with inhabitants : colonize
3
a
: to cause to pack down
b
: to clarify by causing dregs or impurities to sink
4
: to make quiet or orderly
5
a
: to fix or resolve conclusively
settle the question
b
: to establish or secure permanently
settle the order of royal succession
c
: to conclude (a lawsuit) by agreement between parties usually out of court
d
: to close (something, such as an account) by payment often of less than is due
6
: to arrange in a desired position
7
: to make or arrange for final disposition of
settled his affairs
8
of an animal : impregnate

intransitive verb

1
: to come to rest
2
a
: to sink gradually or to the bottom
b
: to become clear by the deposit of sediment or scum
c
: to become compact by sinking
3
a
: to become fixed, resolved, or established
a cold settled in his chest
b
: to establish a residence or colony
settled in Wisconsin
often used with down
4
a
: to become quiet or orderly
b
: to take up an ordered or stable life
often used with down
marry and settle down
5
a
: to adjust differences or accounts
b
: to come to a decision
used with on or upon
settled on a new plan
c
: to conclude a lawsuit by agreement out of court
6
of an animal : conceive
settleable
ˈse-tᵊl-ə-bəl How to pronounce settle (audio)
ˈset-lə-bəl
adjective

settle

2 of 2

noun

: a wooden bench with arms, a high solid back, and an enclosed foundation which can be used as a chest

Illustration of settle

Illustration of settle
Phrases
settle for
: to be content with
settle one's hash
: to silence or subdue someone by decisive action
settle the stomach
: to remove or relieve the distress or nausea of indigestion
Choose the Right Synonym for settle

decide, determine, settle, rule, resolve mean to come or cause to come to a conclusion.

decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.

she decided to sell her house

determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.

determined the cause of the problem

settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty.

the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy

rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.

the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something.

he resolved to quit smoking

Examples of settle in a Sentence

Verb They were determined to settle the dispute before going home for the day. The two sides have settled their differences. We need to settle this question once and for all. That settles it. I can't take the day off from work, so I'm not going. His grandparents were immigrants from Germany who settled in Pennsylvania. He always thought he'd leave the city and settle in the country. the people who settled the West
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Webb allowed four first-inning runs to put the Giants in a hole early, then settled in to strike out the side in the second before allowing a third-inning home run to Rhys Hoskins. Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Its people have traveled all over the world and settled across the world in many different countries. Anastasia Miari, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Mar. 2024 According to The Post-Dispatch, the church is known for helping African refugees settle into the city. Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Martin recently began settling into more of a rhythm on both sides of the ball, getting multiple starts at point guard with LaMelo Ball still recovering from a sprained right ankle. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2024 So what happens after the curriculum recommendations are settled? Lots. Alan J. Borsuk, Journal Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2024 McQuade has settled comfortably into her role as a cable news analyst, which is sort of a classroom writ large. Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 3 Mar. 2024 The lawsuit was settled in 2010, court records show, with a $100,000 judgment entered against Smith and a $750,000 judgment against ABM Ministries and the Musgraves. Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2024 Home Remedies Sitting still in a quiet environment is a way to settle nausea. Colleen Stinchcombe, Health, 2 Mar. 2024
Noun
California Taco Bell and Taco John’s settle trademark dispute. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2023 It should be consumed quickly, before the foam settles, to enjoy its rich, dessert-like flavor and texture. Ruvani De Silva, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023 Sotheby's ultra-crisp Oliver Barker sensed that and slowed his ordinarily bright marketing slightly, to let the money being tossed in the air settle in the minds of its (at that moment) three main bidders. Guy Martin, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2023 The fall was its fourth in five sessions and its lowest settle since late August; WTI is off 10% since setting a 13-month high of $93.68 a barrel last Wednesday. Bob Henderson, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2023 To the table’s left, almost like a shadow, is a smaller, curved black settle from the 1840s. Carolyn Asome, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2023 The 30-year yield marked its highest settle since 2011. WSJ, 17 Aug. 2023 San Diego hit an all-time high of $6.43 per gallon on Oct. 5, 2022, followed by consistent declines that saw the average price settle in the $4.40 range last Christmas. Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Aug. 2023 Plus, when river flows are weak, more sediment settles on the riverbed. Raymond Zhong, New York Times, 6 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'settle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to seat, bring to rest, come to rest, from Old English setlan, from setl seat

Noun

Middle English, place for sitting, seat, chair, from Old English setl; akin to Old High German sezzal seat, Latin sella seat, chair, Old English sittan to sit

First Known Use

Verb

1515, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1553, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of settle was in 1515

Dictionary Entries Near settle

Cite this Entry

“Settle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/settle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

settle

1 of 2 noun
set·​tle ˈset-ᵊl How to pronounce settle (audio)
: a long wooden bench with arms and a high solid back

settle

2 of 2 verb
settled; settling
ˈset-liŋ,
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to place so as to stay
settled into a chair
2
a
: to establish in a place to live : colonize
settled the West
b
: to make one's home
settle in the country
3
: to make or become quiet : calm
rocking settled the baby
4
: decide sense 1
settle the question
5
: to put in order : make final arrangements
settle an estate
settle a bill
6
: to adjust differences
settle a quarrel
7
a
: to come to rest
birds settling on a branch
b
: to descend usually slowly and stay down
mist settling in the valley
8
a
: to sink gradually or to the bottom
the foundations of the house settled
often used with out
dust particles settling out
b
: to sink in a liquid
sediment settles to the bottom
9
: to apply oneself
usually used with down
settle down to study
10
: to take up an ordered life
often used with down
marry and settle down

Medical Definition

settle

verb
set·​tle ˈset-ᵊl How to pronounce settle (audio)
settled; settling

intransitive verb

of an animal : conceive

Legal Definition

settle

verb
set·​tle
settled; settling

transitive verb

1
: to resolve conclusively
settle a question of law
2
: to establish or secure permanently
a settled legal principle
3
: close
settle the sale of securities
settle the estate
4
: to resolve a disagreement about (a court order)
no hearing to consider these objections and to settle the order had been conductedSaba v. Gray, 314 N.W.2d 597 (1981)
5
a
: to fix (a price) by mutual agreement
b
: to conclude (a lawsuit) by entering into an agreement negotiated by the parties usually out of court
c
: to close (as an account) by payment
also : to close by compromise and payment of less than the full amount claimed or due

intransitive verb

1
: to conclude a lawsuit by entering into an agreement
the plaintiff chose to settle out of court
2
: to make a settlement of a transfer of funds
3
: to adjust differences or accounts
settled with his creditors

More from Merriam-Webster on settle

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