settle — English Dictionary

settle
Pronunciations (4)
  • /ˈsɛ.təl/
    Pronunciation notes
    • Received-Pronunciation
  • [ˈsɛtəɫ]
    Pronunciation notes
    • Received-Pronunciation
  • [ˈsɛtɫ̩]
    Pronunciation notes
    • Received-Pronunciation
  • /ˈsɛtəl/
    Pronunciation notes
    • General-American

Verb

  1. To conclude or resolve (something): To determine (something which was exposed to doubt or question); to resolve conclusively; to set or fix (a time, an order of succession, etc).

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Synonyms
    Examples

    His fears were settled

    She hopes to settle any questions about the plans.

    More examples (2)

    The question of the succession to a throne needs to be settled.

    It is a Pamphlet, [...] It will ſettle the Wavering, confirm the Doubtful, inſtruct the Ignorant, inflame the Clamorous, though it never be once looked into.

  2. To conclude or resolve (something): To conclude, to cause (a dispute) to finish.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    to settle a quarrel

  3. To conclude or resolve (something): To conclude, to cause (a dispute) to finish. In particular, to terminate (a lawsuit), usually out of court, by agreement of all parties.

    Usage
    • Transitive
  4. To conclude or resolve (something): To close, liquidate or balance (an account) by payment, sometimes of less than is owed or due.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Synonyms
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    The coffee was only surface wet and looked worse than it actually was and as he returned to the Reception Desk to settle his account and give back his room key, he was met again by the young man who was still wearing his rucksack.

  5. To conclude or resolve (something): To pay (a bill or debt).

    Usage
    • Colloquial
    • Transitive
  6. To conclude or resolve (something): To adjust differences or accounts; to come to an agreement on matters in dispute.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    He has settled with his creditors.

  7. To conclude or resolve (something): To conclude a lawsuit by agreement of the parties rather than a decision of a court.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    Of course, certainty is a value in all systems of conflict of laws—including those of the United States. Certainty for litigants decreases litigation and transaction costs and increases the chances that cases will settle.

  8. To place or arrange in(to) a desired (especially: calm) state, or make final disposition of (something).

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    to settle my affairs

    to settle her estate

  9. To place or arrange in(to) a desired (especially: calm) state, or make final disposition of (something). To put into (proper) place; to make sit or lie properly.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    The curate settled his collar, coughed, and, making an effort, knocked.

    She twisted out from under the claim of his palm to settle her feet on the floor.

    More examples (1)

    Pausing only to settle his cloak and set his Regent's circlet on his hair, he strode to the rail and waited.

  10. To place or arrange in(to) a desired (especially: calm) state, or make final disposition of (something). To cause to no longer be in a disturbed, confused or stormy; to quiet; to calm (nerves, waters, a boisterous or rebellious child, etc).

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    God settled then the huge whale-bearing lake, / And Tenedos we reach'd; [...]

    [I]t drawing towards night, and they hoping that ſleep might ſettle his brains, with all haſt they got him to bed; [...]

  11. To place or arrange in(to) a desired (especially: calm) state, or make final disposition of (something). To silence, especially by force.

    Usage
    • UK usage
    • dialectal
    • Transitive
  12. To place or arrange in(to) a desired (especially: calm) state, or make final disposition of (something). To kill.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    I poured a charge of powder over the nipple so as not tu miss goin' off if possible. Click! went the match,—up jumped the flock, or tried tu. As they bunched up, Peggy blazed intu 'em, settlin’ how many I didn't know, …

  13. To place or arrange in(to) a desired (especially: calm) state, or make final disposition of (something). To bring or restore (ground, roads, etc) to a smooth, dry, or passable condition.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    clear weather settles the roads

  14. To become calm, quiet, or orderly; to stop being agitated.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    The weather settled.

    Wait until the crowd settles before speaking.

    More examples (2)

    [T]il the fury of his Highneſſe ſettle / Come not before him.

    With Vardy working tirelessly up front, chasing lost causes and generally making a nuisance of himself, Sevilla were never allowed to settle on a night when the atmosphere was electric inside the King Power Stadium.

  15. To become calm, quiet, or orderly; to stop being agitated. To become firm, dry, and hard, like the ground after the effects of rain or frost have disappeared.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    The roads settled late in the spring.

  16. To establish or become established in a steady position: To place in(to) a fixed or permanent condition or position or on(to) a permanent basis; to make firm, steady, or stable; to establish or fix.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    And he settled his countenance stedfastly [upon him], until he was ashamed.

  17. To establish or become established in a steady position: In particular, to establish in life; to fix in business, in a home, etc.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    Now thirteen Years of Age were ſwiftly run, / When the fond Father thought the time drew on / Of ſettling in the World his only Son.

    But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever.

  18. To establish or become established in a steady position: In particular, to establish in life; to fix in business, in a home, etc. In particular, to establish in pastoral office; to ordain or install as pastor or rector of a church, society, or parish.

    Usage
    • US usage
    • Obsolete
    • Transitive
    Examples

    to settle a minister

  19. To establish or become established in a steady position: To formally, legally secure (an annuity, property, title, etc) on (a person).

    Usage
    • Transitive
  20. To establish or become established in a steady position: To make a jointure for a spouse.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    • Obsolete
    Examples

    He sighs with most success that settles well.

  21. To establish or become established in a steady position: To become married, or a householder.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    As People marry now, and ſettle; / Fierce Love abates his uſual Mettle: [...]

  22. To establish or become established in a steady position: To be established in a profession or in employment.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    • with "in"
    Examples

    He is settled in the profession of law at Rochester, New York.

    More examples (2)

    Following his avowed aim to settle in his profession of medicine, Sloane arranged to call on Dr Thomas Sydenham, the foremost physician of his day in London, known as 'the English Hippocrates'.

    The likely explanation for this is the fact that between the two groups one is now settling in the profession while the older group is preparing to retire and are no longer keen to gain new skills.

  23. To establish or become established in a steady position: To become stationary or fixed; to come to rest.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    • usually
    • with "down"
    Examples

    But then the Wind came about, and ſetled in the West for many dayes, ſo as we could make little or no way, and were ſometimes in purpoſe to turne backe.

    Chyle [...] runs through all the intermediate colors until it settles in an intense red.

    More examples (2)

    They settled down at an inn.

    The hawk settled on a branch.

  24. To fix one's residence in a place; to establish a dwelling place, home, or colony. (Compare settle down.)

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    the Saxons who settled in Britain

    More examples (1)

    The British could identify very few ‘village elders’ in the colony. The reason was that the majority of the Chinese in Hong Kong were male immigrants with no village to which to attach themselves. They tended to settle in an area known as Sheung Wan (the Upper Bay) on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island.

  25. To fix one's residence in a place; to establish a dwelling place, home, or colony. (Compare settle down.) To colonize (an area); to migrate to (a land, territory, site, etc).

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    • Transitive
    • in particular
    Examples

    the French first settled Canada

    the Puritans settled New England

    More examples (2)

    Plymouth was settled in 1620.

    It was in the year 1794, that an English family went out to settle in Canada.

  26. To move (people) to (a land or territory), so as to colonize it; to cause (people) to take residence in (a place).

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    Rome began to settle displaced or disenfranchised citizens, veterans, and allies in colonies beyond Italy.

  27. To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact. To clear or purify (a liquid) of dregs and impurities by causing them to sink.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    to settle coffee, or the grounds of coffee

  28. To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact. To cause to sink down or to be deposited (dregs, sediment, etc).

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    to settle the sediment out of the water

  29. To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact. To render compact or solid; to cause to become packed down.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    to settle the chips in the potato chip bag by shaking it

  30. To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact. To sink to the bottom of a body of liquid, as dregs of a liquid, or the sediment of a reservoir.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
  31. To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact. To sink gradually to a lower level; to subside, for example the foundation of a house, etc.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    Sometimes a tub will settle at one corner, causing the rim to slope.

  32. To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact. To become compact due to sinking.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    The chips in the bag of potato chips settled during shipping.

  33. To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact. To become clear due to the sinking of sediment. (Used especially of liquid. Also used figuratively.)

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    wine settles by standing

  34. Of an animal: to make or become pregnant.

    Usage
    • Transitive or intransitive
    Examples
    More examples (4)

    Some mares do not show signs of being in heat even when tried ("teased") regularly with a stallion, but they often can be settled either by natural or artificial service, provided the approximate time of ovulation is determined and they are not suffering from either a diseased or abnormal condition of the reproductive system.

    During March, 1926, two more mares were bred to him and on February 14, 1927 one of them foaled a perfectly formed bay stud foal. It is not known whether or not the other mare settled for she was never returned for trial.

    This older mare created many, many problems for us in terms of trying to get the mare to settle. She came to us in January, and her record shows fairly consistent heats, but she had numerous problems which will be outlined in Example l0.

    Those sperm may still be viable, enabling the stallion to settle mares for a while until he runs out of mature sperm and has no more coming on because of the gap in production while he was sick or injured.

    However, even a stallion with low volume, poor-quality semen, if properly managed, can adequately settle mares.

    There are several kinds of hormones available that may help your mare to settle properly in case she is difficult to get in foal.

Noun

  1. A seat of any kind.

    Usage
    • Archaic
    Examples

    sit on a settle of joy with angels

    If hunger drive the Pagans from their dens, One, 'gainst a settle breaketh both his shins;

    More examples (2)

    "The gloom of those failing embers," exclaimed Francesca, "Has infected us both!" and, rising from the low settle, she lighted the lamp, and flung some smaller wood on the hearth, and a cheerful blaze kindled at once.

    [The] Queen or eorl's wife, with a train of maidens, bore ale-bowl or mead-bowl round the hall, from the high settle of king or ealdorman in the midst to the mead benches ranged around its walls, while the gleeman sang the hero-songs

  2. A long bench with a high back and arms, often with chest or storage space underneath.

    Usage
    • Archaic
    Examples

    Beneath its shade, the place of state, / On oaken settle Marmion sate, / And viewed around the blazing hearth.

    Let us return now to the little girl we left feigning to sleep soundly upon a settle in the kitchen.

    More examples (2)

    Nineteen persons were gathered here. Of these, […] John Pitcher, a neighbouring dairyman, the shepherd's father-in-law, lolled in the settle; […]

    By the fireside, the big arm-chair […] fondly cronied with two venerable settles within the chimney corner.

  3. A place made lower than the rest; a wide step or platform lower than some other part. (Compare a depression.)

    Usage
    • Obsolete
    Examples

    And from the bottom upon the ground, even to the lower settle, shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit.

Noun

  1. a long wooden bench with a back

    Synonyms
    Broader terms

Verb

  1. settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground

    Synonyms
    Examples

    dust settled on the roofs

  2. bring to an end; settle conclusively

    Broader terms
    Examples

    The case was decided

    The judge decided the case in favor of the plaintiff

    More examples (1)

    The father adjudicated when the sons were quarreling over their inheritance

  3. settle conclusively; come to terms

    Broader terms
    Examples

    We finally settled the argument

  4. take up residence and become established

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    The immigrants settled in the Midwest

  5. come to terms

    Examples

    After some discussion we finally made up

  6. go under

    Examples

    The raft sank and its occupants drowned

  7. become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style

    Broader terms
    Examples

    He finally settled down

  8. become resolved, fixed, established, or quiet

    Broader terms
    Examples

    The roar settled to a thunder

    The wind settled in the West

    More examples (3)

    it is settling to rain

    A cough settled in her chest

    Her mood settled into lethargy

  9. establish or develop as a residence

    Broader terms
    Examples

    He settled the farm 200 years ago

    This land was settled by Germans

  10. come to rest

    Broader terms
  11. arrange or fix in the desired order

    Broader terms
    Examples

    She settled the teacart

  12. accept despite lack of complete satisfaction

    Broader terms
    Examples

    We settled for a lower price

  13. end a legal dispute by arriving at a settlement

    Examples

    The two parties finally settled

  14. dispose of; make a financial settlement

    Broader terms
  15. become clear by the sinking of particles

    Broader terms
    Examples

    the liquid gradually settled

  16. cause to become clear by forming a sediment (of liquids)

    Broader terms
  17. sink down or precipitate

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    the mud subsides when the waters become calm

  18. fix firmly

    Synonyms
    Examples

    He ensconced himself in the chair

  19. get one's revenge for a wrong or an injury

    Synonyms
    Examples

    I finally settled with my old enemy

  20. make final; put the last touches on; put into final form

    Broader terms
    Examples

    let's finalize the proposal

  21. form a community

    Examples

    The Swedes settled in Minnesota

  22. come as if by falling

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    Night fell

    Silence fell

Word forms
settlessettlingsettledsettledsattlesettles

Code Formatters

Format and beautify Java, Python, JavaScript, JSON, HTML and more; adjust indentation, spacing and line breaks.

More tools

Audio Editing & Effects

Trim, join or split recordings, remove silence or noise, and adjust volume, speed, pitch or channels.

More tools

Spreadsheet Tools

Open and edit CSV or Excel sheets, format tabular text, and convert CSV to Excel or SQL.

More tools

Markdown Tools

Write and preview Markdown, render Mermaid diagrams, and convert Markdown, HTML and tables between formats.

Text Tools

Compare passages, count words and keywords, sort or replace lines, and view DOCX text.

Dictionaries

Look up Chinese meanings, synonyms and antonyms, or find IPA pronunciations in multiple languages.

Audio Conversion & Playback

Convert between MP3, WAV, FLAC and more, play audio or raw PCM, and inspect or edit audio metadata.

JSON & Data Tools

Inspect, compare and validate JSON; test JSONPath expressions, or convert data to CSV, YAML and XML.

More tools

Speech Tools

Transcribe audio to text, generate speech from text, or record your voice in the browser.

Video Tools

Convert and compress video, trim or join clips, resize frames, and extract audio.

More tools

Video Playback & Recording

Play local or streaming video, record your screen or camera, and use your camera as an online mirror.

PDF Tools

Compress or merge PDFs, split and rearrange pages, convert pages to images, and view or compare documents.

More tools

Image Tools

Convert image formats, resize or crop photos, compress files, compare pictures, and extract text with OCR.

More tools

Image Creation

Capture and beautify screenshots, turn text into images or GIFs, draw on a whiteboard, and create word clouds or favicons.

More tools

Subtitle Tools

Edit SRT or VTT captions with a video preview, shift timing, convert formats, and manage subtitle tracks.

More tools

Archive Tools

Open ZIP, 7Z, RAR or TAR files, extract selected contents, and create new archives with optional ZIP/7Z passwords.

Encoders | Decoders

Encode and decode Base64 or Base32, escape URLs, HTML and Unicode text, and inspect JWT contents.

More tools

Number Tools

Convert number bases and values between binary, decimal and hex; turn numbers into words or text into binary.

Calculators

Work out percentages and fractions, summarize statistics, and calculate grades, discounts or aspect ratios.

More tools

Time Tools

Show an online clock, run a countdown or stopwatch, and calculate dates, ages or time-zone differences.

More tools

Network Tools

Check your IP and IPv6 connection, inspect HTTP requests or HAR files, and calculate CIDR address ranges.

Unit Conversions

Convert length, weight, temperature, data storage and other units.

Color Tools

Convert HEX, RGB and HSL values, extract colors from an image, check contrast, or test your display with solid colors.

QR Codes & Barcodes

Generate and scan QR codes or barcodes, including QR codes for links and Wi-Fi networks.

Developer & Security Tools

Generate hashes, UUIDs and passwords, test regular expressions, create URL slugs and check file permissions.

More tools

Utility Tools

Check screen resolution and refresh rate, measure with a screen ruler, test keys, or read from a teleprompter.

More tools

Games

2048, Minesweeper, Sudoku, Gomoku, Tank Battle

More tools