dictate
verb /dɪkˈteɪt/
/ˈdɪkteɪt/
Verb Forms
Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they dictate | /dɪkˈteɪt/ /ˈdɪkteɪt/ |
| he / she / it dictates | /dɪkˈteɪts/ /ˈdɪkteɪts/ |
| past simple dictated | /dɪkˈteɪtɪd/ /ˈdɪkteɪtɪd/ |
| past participle dictated | /dɪkˈteɪtɪd/ /ˈdɪkteɪtɪd/ |
| -ing form dictating | /dɪkˈteɪtɪŋ/ /ˈdɪkteɪtɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] to tell somebody what to do, especially in an annoying way
- dictate something (to somebody) They are in no position to dictate terms (= tell other people what to do).
- dictate how, what, etc…/that… What right do they have to dictate how we live our lives?
Extra Examples- It was only the king or queen who could dictate policy.
- This political stance had been dictated by the Prime Minister.
- [transitive, intransitive] to control or influence how something happens synonym determine
- dictate (something) When we take our vacations is very much dictated by Greg's work schedule.
- dictate where, what, etc… It's generally your job that dictates where you live now.
- dictate that… The social conventions of the day dictated that she should remain at home with her parents.
Extra Examples- What followed dictated the course of his life.
- This is clearly the best choice, unless financial considerations dictate otherwise.
- She had to remain indoors for 30 days before the wedding, as custom dictates.
- [transitive, intransitive] dictate (something) (to somebody) to say words for somebody else to write down or to be recorded
- She dictated the letter to her assistant.
- OK, you write, I'll dictate.
- Just dictate into the machine, we'll transcribe it later.
Word Originlate 16th cent. (in sense (1)): from Latin dictat- ‘dictated’, from the verb dictare.