Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense settles, present participle settling, past tense, past participle settled
1. verb
If people settle an argument or problem, or if something settles it, they solve it, for example by making a decision about who is right or about what to do.
They agreed to try to settle their dispute by negotiation. [VERB noun]
Both sides are looking for ways to settle their differences. [VERB noun]
Tomorrow's vote is unlikely to settle the question of who will replace their leader. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: resolve, work out, remedy, reconcile More Synonyms of settle
2. verb
If people settle a legal dispute or if they settle, they agree to end the dispute without going to a court of law, for example by paying some money or by apologizing.
In an attempt to settle the case, Molken has agreed to pay restitution. [VERB noun]
She got much less than she would have done if she had settled out of court. [VERB]
His company settled with the authorities by paying a $200 million fine. [VERB + with]
3. verb
If you settle a bill or debt, you pay the amount that you owe.
I settled the bill for my coffee. [VERB noun]
They settled with Colin at the end of the evening. [VERB + with]
Synonyms: pay, clear, square (up), discharge More Synonyms of settle
4. verb [usually passive]
If something is settled, it has all been decided and arranged.
As far as we're concerned, the matter is settled. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: decide, close, end, complete More Synonyms of settle
5. verb
To settle money on someone means to formally give it to them, for example in a will.
[formal]
She offered to settle a legacy on Katharine. [VERB noun on noun]
6. verb
When people settle a place or in a place, or when a government settles them there, they start living there permanently.
Refugees settling in Britain suffer from a number of problems. [VERB preposition/adverb]
He visited Paris and eventually settled there. [VERB preposition/adverb]
This was one of the first areas to be settled by Europeans. [VERB noun]
Thirty-thousand-million dollars is needed to settle the refugees. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: colonize, populate, people, pioneer More Synonyms of settle
7. verb
If you settleyourself somewhere or settle somewhere, you sit down or make yourself comfortable.
Albert settled himself on the sofa. [VERB pronoun-reflexive preposition/adverb]
Jessica settled into her chair with a small sigh of relief. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: make comfortable, park [informal], install, plonk [informal] More Synonyms of settle
8. verb
If something settles or if you settle it, it sinks slowly down and becomes still.
A black dust settled on the walls. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Once its impurities had settled, the oil could be graded. [VERB]
Tap each one firmly on your work surface to settle the mixture. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: subside, fall, sink, decline More Synonyms of settle
9. verb
If your eyes settleon or upon something, you stop looking around and look at that thing for some time.
The man let his eyes settle upon Cross's face. [VERB + on/upon]
10. verb
When birds or insects settle on something, they land on it from above.
Moths flew in front of it, eventually settling on the rough painted metal. [VERB + on]
11. See also settled
12. when the dust settles
13. to settle a score
Phrasal verbs:
See settle down
See settle for
See settle in
See settle on
See settle up
More Synonyms of settle
settle in British English1
(ˈsɛtəl)
verb
1. (transitive)
to put in order; arrange in a desired state or condition
she settled her affairs before she died
2.
to arrange or be arranged in a fixed or comfortable position
I settled myself by the fire
3. (intransitive)
to come to rest or a halt
a bird settled on the hedge
4.
to take up or cause to take up residence
the family settled in the country
5.
to establish or become established in a way of life, job, residence, etc
6. (transitive)
to migrate to and form a community; colonize
7.
to make or become quiet, calm, or stable
8. (intransitive)
to be cast or spread; come down
fog settled over a wide area
9.
to make (a liquid) clear or (of a liquid) to become clear; clarify
10.
to cause (sediment) to sink to the bottom, as in a liquid, or (of sediment) to sink thus
11.
to subside or cause to subside and become firm or compact
the dust settled
12. (sometimes foll by up)
to pay off or account for (a bill, debt, etc)
13. (transitive)
to decide, conclude, or dispose of
to settle an argument
14. (intr; often foll by on or upon)
to agree or fix
to settle upon a plan
15. (tr; usually foll by on or upon)
to secure (title, property, etc) to a person, as by making a deed of settlement, will, etc
he settled his property on his children
16.
to determine (a legal dispute, etc) by agreement of the parties without resort to court action (esp in the phrase settle out of court)
Derived forms
settleable (ˈsettleable)
adjective
Word origin
Old English setlan; related to Dutch zetelen; see settle2
settle in British English2
(ˈsɛtəl)
noun
a seat, for two or more people, usually made of wood with a high back and arms, and sometimes having a storage space in the boxlike seat
Word origin
Old English setl; related to Old Saxon, Old High German sezzal
settle in American English1
(ˈsɛtəl)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈsettled or ˈsettling
1.
to put in order; arrange or adjust as desired
to settle one's affairs
2.
to set in place firmly or comfortably
to settle oneself in a chair
3.
to establish as a resident or residents
he settled his family in London
4.
to migrate to and set up a community in; colonize
New York was settled by the Dutch
5.
to cause to sink and become more dense and compact
the rain settled the dust
6.
to clarify (a liquid) by causing the sediment to sink to the bottom
7.
to free (the mind, nerves, stomach, etc.) from disturbance; calm or quiet
8.
to prevent from creating a disturbance or interfering, or from continuing in such action, as by a reprimand or a blow
9.
to make stable or permanent; establish
10.
to establish in business, office, work, marriage, etc.
11.
to fix definitely; determine or decide (something in doubt)
12.
to end (a dispute)
13.
to pay (a bill, debt, account, etc.)
14.
to make over (property, etc.) to someone by legal action
with on or upon
15.
to resolve (a legal dispute) by agreement between the parties
16.
to impregnate (a female)
said of an animal
verb intransitive
17.
to stop moving and stay in one place; come to rest
18.
to cast itself, as darkness, fog, etc. over a landscape, or gloom or silence over a person or group; descend
19.
to become localized in a given part of the body
said of pain or disease
20.
to take up permanent residence; make one's home
21.
to move downward; sink, esp. gradually
the car settled in the mud
22.
to become more dense or compact by sinking, as sediment or loose soil when shaken
23.
to become clearer by the settling of sediment or dregs
24.
to become more stable or composed; stop fluctuating or changing
25.
a.
to reach an agreement or decision
usually with with, on, or upon
b. US
to accept something in place of what is hoped for, demanded, etc.
with for
he'll settle for any kind of work
26.
to pay a bill or debt
SIMILAR WORDS: deˈcide
Idioms:
settle down
settle up
Word origin
ME setlen < OE setlan < setl, a seat: see settle2
settle in American English2
(ˈsɛtəl)
noun
a long wooden bench with a back, armrests, and sometimes a chest beneath the seat
Word origin
ME settel < OE setl (akin to Ger sessel) < IE *sedla- < base *sed- > sit
settle in Finance
(sɛtəl)
Word forms: (present) settles, (past) settled, (perfect) settled, (progressive) settling
verb
(Finance: Investment, Stocks)
If you settle a trade or security, you pay for and deliver securities that were traded.
There is an obligation in the brokerage business to settle securities trades by the third day following the trade date.
Eurodollars are most commonly used to settle international transactions outside the United States.
If you settle a trade or security, you pay for and deliver securities that were traded.
More idioms containing
settle
settle a score
Examples of 'settle' in a sentence
settle
She circled back and settled gracefully to earth at the spot where the trampling began.
Kerr, Katharine A Time of War (1993)
The suit was settled out of court.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The lights in the cabin were dimmed and all around us people were settling down to sleep.
The Sun (2016)
The new deal is an an attempt to settle the dispute.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You will need to submit final meter readings and settle any outstanding bill with your old supplier.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But the argument should be settled by whether or not the public comes.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They had tickets for standard class but enraged fellow passengers by settling down in first.
The Sun (2012)
Why settle for one lake when you can have four?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Fear of discovery or identification causes some offenders to settle only for passive validation.
Christianity Today (2000)
The court is not a place to settle petty squabbles between celebrities.
The Sun (2016)
It settles into something like a pleasure.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When the dust settles it will be argued they were simply doing their job.
The Sun (2012)
We have to settle and make sure we stay in the race in the early stages.
The Sun (2013)
But then his gaze settles firmly on the most prominent item in the study.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He shuddered and then settled back in his chair with a trembling sigh.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
If a wine is left undisturbed in a cold cellar for long enough it will settle and clear naturally.
Lockspeiser, Jerry & Gear, Jackie Thorsons Organic Wine Guide (1991)
Then, he settled into his seat and we pulled away.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Word lists with
settle
sofa
In other languages
settle
British English: settle /ˈsɛtl/ VERB
If two people settle an argument or problem, or if someone or something settles it, they solve it by making a decision about who is right or about what to do.
They are both looking for ways to settle their differences.
American English: settle
Arabic: يَحِلُّ
Brazilian Portuguese: resolver
Chinese: 解决
Croatian: izgladiti
Czech: urovnat spor, hádku
Danish: ordne
Dutch: oplossen
European Spanish: arreglar solucionar
Finnish: hoitaa kuntoon
French: régler
German: regeln
Greek: διευθετώ
Italian: risolvere
Japanese: 解決する
Korean: 정하다
Norwegian: legge til rette
Polish: osiąść
European Portuguese: resolver
Romanian: soluționa
Russian: урегулировать
Latin American Spanish: arreglar establecer
Swedish: klara upp
Thai: แก้ปัญหา
Turkish: yoluna koymak
Ukrainian: вирішувати
Vietnamese: giải quyết
All related terms of 'settle'
settle in
If you settle in , you become used to living in a new place, doing a new job , or going to a new school .
settle on
If you settle on a particular thing, you choose it after considering other possible choices .
settle up
When you settle up , you pay a bill or a debt .
settle down
When someone settles down , they start living a quiet life in one place, especially when they get married or buy a house .
settle for
If you settle for something, you choose or accept it, especially when it is not what you really want but there is nothing else available .
settle with
to pay a debt or bill to
settle a case
In law, a case is a trial or other legal inquiry .
settle a claim
If an insurer settles a claim it pays money to a policyholder for the occurrence of a loss or risk against which they were insured .
settle allegations
An allegation is a statement saying that someone has done something wrong .
settle a score
to take revenge for something that someone has done to you in the past
settle an issue
An issue is an important subject that people are arguing about or discussing .
settle accounts with
to pay or receive a balance due
settle someone's hash
to subdue or silence someone
settle (one's) accounts
To settle accounts with an enemy or opponent means to bring your fight or quarrel to an end by defeating them.
to settle out of court
to resolve a legal dispute before a court comes to a final decision
to settle a score to settle an old score
If you settle a score or settle an old score with someone, you take revenge on them for something they have done in the past .
Chinese translation of 'settle'
settle
(ˈsɛtl)
vt
[argument, question]解决(決) (jiějué)
[affairs]料理 (liàolǐ)
(= pay)[bill, account, debt]支付 (zhīfù)
vi
[sand, dust]沉积(積) (chénjī)
[sediment]沉淀(澱) (chéndiàn)
to settle on sth[insect, bird]停落在某物上 (tíngluò zài mǒuwù shang)
(= go to live) 定居 (dìngjū)
=settle down
they have settled their differences他们(們)已经(經)解决(決)了他们(們)之间(間)的分歧 (tāmen yǐjīng jiějuéle tāmen zhījiān de fēnqí)
to settle a score or an old score (with sb)(与(與)某人)算旧(舊)账(賬) ((yǔ mǒurén) suàn jiùzhàng)