# decide

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɪˈsaɪd/ · frequency rank #1,715

## Definitions
1. To resolve (a contest, problem, dispute, etc.); to choose, determine, or settle.
2. To make a judgment, especially after deliberation.
3. To cause someone to come to a decision.
4. Of a Turing machine: to return a correct answer (for some yes-or-no problem) on every possible input.
5. To cut off; to separate.

## Etymology
From Middle English deciden, from Old French decider, from Latin dēcīdere, infinitive of dēcīdō (“cut off, decide”), from dē (“down from”) + caedō (“cut”).

## Easily confused with
- **device** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-device)
- **desire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-desire)
- **define** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-define)
- **divide** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-divide)
- **decree** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-decree)
- **demise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-demise)
- **Denise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-denise)
- **derive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-derive)
- **devise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-devise)
- **Devine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-devine)
- **decode** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-decode)
- **docile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-docile)
- **defile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-defile)
- **decided** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-decided)
- **decline** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-decline)
- **decides** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-decides)
- **decider** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-decider)
- **decoder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-decoder)
- **derided** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decide-vs-derided)
- **decade** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decade-vs-decide)

## Common misspellings (7)
`dceide`, `ddecide`, `deccide`, `decdie`, `decied`, `deicde`, `edcide`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/decide