dictate

1 of 2

verb

dictated; dictating

intransitive verb

1
: to utter words to be transcribed : to give dictation
dictate for the stenographer
2
: to speak or act domineeringly : prescribe
resents being dictated to

transitive verb

1
: to speak or read for a person to transcribe or for a machine to record
dictating a letter to her secretary
2
a
: to issue as an order
b
: to impose, pronounce, or specify authoritatively
dictate the terms of surrender
… the league will dictate policy for all teams …Alex Yannis
c
: to require or determine necessarily
injuries dictated the choice of players
The weather will dictate how long we stay.

dictate

2 of 2

noun

dic·​tate ˈdik-ˌtāt How to pronounce dictate (audio)
1
a
: an authoritative rule, prescription, or injunction
the dictates of the party
b
: a ruling principle
according to the dictates of your conscience
2
: a command by one in authority
papal dictates

Examples of dictate in a Sentence

Verb She's dictating a letter to her secretary. They insisted on being able to dictate the terms of surrender. Tradition dictates that the youngest member should go first. The basket's function dictates its size and shape. Noun a starchily worded dictate from on high concerning the company's dress code
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Tesla is arguably one of the most advanced AI companies in the world, yet its stock is dictated by margins. Beth Kindig, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 Baltimore uses a balanced attack to dictate the pace of this matchup. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
There also seems to be something of a decline in confidence in, and in the credibility of, the Communist Party’s dictates, a change that could have dire long-term consequences for the regime. John Mueller, Foreign Affairs, 21 Sep. 2023 The bond market responded to the Fed rate cut with shorter duration Treasury prices going higher and yields dropping as their inverse relationship dictates. Zev Fima, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dictate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dictate.' 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

borrowed from Latin dictātus, past participle of dictāre "to say repeatedly, speak aloud words to be transcribed by another, issue as an order," frequentative of dīcere "to talk, speak, say, utter" — more at diction

Note: See note at dictator.

Noun

borrowed from Medieval Latin dictātum "something commanded" (Latin, in plural dictāta "lessons to be transcribed"), noun derivative from neuter of Latin dictātus, past participle of dictāre "to say repeatedly, say aloud words to be transcribed by another, issue as an order" — more at dictate entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1577, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of dictate was in 1577

Dictionary Entries Near dictate

Cite this Entry

“Dictate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

dictate

1 of 2 verb
dictated; dictating
1
: to speak or read for a person to write down or for a machine to record
dictate a letter to a secretary
2
: to say or state with authority or power : give orders
dictate terms of surrender
few people enjoy being dictated to

dictate

2 of 2 noun
ˈdik-ˌtāt
: an order or direction given with authority : command
the dictates of conscience
Etymology

Verb

from Latin dictatus, past participle of dictare "to assert, dictate," from dicere "to say" — related to dictionary, predict, verdict

More from Merriam-Webster on dictate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!