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View synonyms for

dictate

[dik-teyt, dik-teyt, dik-teyt]

verb (used with object)

dictated, dictating 
  1. to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record.

    to dictate some letters to a secretary.

  2. to prescribe or lay down authoritatively or peremptorily; command unconditionally.

    to dictate peace terms to a conquered enemy.



verb (used without object)

dictated, dictating 
  1. to say or read aloud something to be written down by a person or recorded by a machine.

  2. to give orders.

noun

  1. an authoritative order or command.

  2. a guiding or governing principle, requirement, etc..

    to follow the dictates of one's conscience.

    Synonyms:

dictate

verb

  1. to say (messages, letters, speeches, etc) aloud for mechanical recording or verbatim transcription by another person

  2. (tr) to prescribe (commands) authoritatively

  3. (intr) to act in a tyrannical manner; seek to impose one's will on others

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. an authoritative command

  2. a guiding principle or rule

    the dictates of reason

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • dictatingly adverb
  • misdictated adjective
  • predictate verb (used with object)
  • redictate verb
  • undictated adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of dictate1

First recorded in 1585–95; from Latin 徱ٳܲ “said repeatedly,” past participle of “to say repeatedly, order, prescribe,” from ī “to say, speak, tell”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of dictate1

C17: from Latin to say repeatedly, order, from ī to say
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

And is love in its purest and simplest form enough in a world dictated by cash flow and ruled by big egos?

From

“Instead, Mr. Avenatti misappropriated my funds, and he dictated my fate without my consent, based on choices that he made.”

From

If that’s the case, then logic dictates that we ask; Who would pay agitators to make the protests more violent?

From

Sherman-Palladino: A lot of times, though, the dance pieces were story, so sometimes that dictated the way you shot it, because we tried to not do a lot of like, “Let’s stop for dance.”

From

Many directors echo this appreciation for the freedom HBO affords them to do what they want in a commercial space often dictated by algorithms and house styles.

From

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Dictaphonedictating machine