dictate Hear it!

dictate Definition

dic·tate (dik′tāt′; also, for v. dik tāt′)

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·tat′ed, -·tat′·ing

  1. to speak or read (something) aloud for someone else to write down
  2. to prescribe or command forcefully
  3. to impose or give (orders) with or as with authority
  4. to give (orders or instructions) arbitrarily

Etymology: < L dictatus, pp. of dictare, freq. of dicere, to speak: see diction

noun

  1. an authoritative command
  2. a guiding principle or requirement the dictates of conscience

dictate Synonyms

dictate

v.

  1. To speak for record

    speak, deliver, give forth, interview, compose, formulate, verbalize, record, orate, emit, give an account, draft correspondence, prepare the first draft; see also talk 1.

  2. To give peremptory orders

    direct, prescribe, decree, ordain; see command 1, 2, manage 1.

    Antonyms follow*, plead*, petition.

dictate Usage Examples

Object

  • pace: The Robins upped the tempo and dictated the pace of the game in the second half.
  • necessity: Must be willing to work over time when the workload dictates the necessity.
  • sentence: For example, you dictate the lead sentence: .
  • extent: The goals of the individual teacher and school will dictate the extent to which these questions of assessment inform the selection of a game.
  • agenda: It was therefore necessary to adopt an approach that allowed them to dictate the agenda.
  • timing: Commercialism now has the upper hand and it dictates the timing of important games.

Subject

  • availability: Most people in native cultures eating diets dictated by availability experienced vibrant health.
  • consideration: The reaction of the regime was not dictated by literary considerations.
  • circumstance: The choice will often be dictated by circumstances on the location of cameras and controls.

Modifying Another Word

largely: Being part of the Issues in Society series, the format of the text is largely dictated to Scambler.

Used with why or when

  • which: My shoes dictated which type of pedals I went for.
  • who: Tony Blair has promised a points system to dictate who is allowed to come in.
  • what: Can also dictate what you don't want to include.
  • where: The topic itself will dictate where the most leverage should occur.
  • when: They get consensus when they can but dictate when they have to.

Present participle complement

accord: The weapons used were dictated according to status and position.

Preposition: of

conscience: Somewhere, at this moment, an Antigone is confronting a Creon, and standing up for the dictates of conscience against tyranny.

Preposition: by

  • availability: Most people in native cultures eating diets dictated by availability experienced vibrant health.
  • consideration: The reaction of the regime was not dictated by literary considerations.
  • circumstance: The choice will often be dictated by circumstances on the location of cameras and controls.