settle

SaySET-ul/ˈsɛtəl/UK/ˈsɛ.təl/

37 meanings of settle

1
verbtransitive
To bring an argument or fight to an end so it is finished.
Like putting out a fire so the arguing stops for good.
They want to settle the argument before it gets any worse.
A judge finally settled the dispute between the two neighbors.
Similarresolve, end, conclude, decide
Note
2
verbintransitive
To become calm and quiet after being upset or noisy.
Like a pond that goes still after you stop stirring it.
The class began to settle once the teacher walked in.
The baby settled as soon as the lights went down.
Similarcalm, quiet, relax, subside
Note
3
verbintransitive
To come to rest in one place and stop moving.
Like a leaf that floats down and comes to rest on the ground.
Dust began to settle on the old shelves.
The bird settled on a branch near the window.
Similarland, alight, sink, rest, descend
Note
4
verbintransitive
To make your home in a new place and stay there.
Like planting a tree in the spot where it will grow for good.
After years of travel, they decided to settle in Oregon.
Her family settled near the coast many years ago.
Similarlive, reside, locate
5
verbtransitive
To make someone or something calm and quiet again.
Like smoothing a wrinkled sheet until it lies flat.
A warm drink can help settle your stomach.
The teacher settled the noisy class with a calm voice.
Similarcalm, soothe, steady, quiet, pacify
Oppositeagitate, unsettle, disturb, upset
Note
6
verbcolloquialtransitive
To pay money that you owe, such as a bill.
Let me settle the bill before we leave.
He settled his account at the end of the month.
Similarpay, foot, cover, clear, square
7
verbintransitive
To sink slowly down to a lower level over time.
Like a heavy box slowly pressing down into soft sand.
Old houses often settle a little as the years pass.
The ground settled after the heavy rains stopped.
Similarsubside, sink, sag, drop, slump
Oppositerise
Note
8
verbintransitive
To reach an agreement and bring a disagreement to an end.
Like two people shaking hands to put an argument behind them.
After hours of talking, the partners agreed to settle.
The neighbors settled quickly once both of them apologized.
Similaragree, compromise
Note
9
verbtransitive
To decide something for sure so there is no more doubt.
Like locking a door so it cannot swing open again.
Let's settle the date for the party right now.
They settled the order of speakers before the event began.
Similardecide, resolve, determine, fix, establish
Oppositereopen
Note
10
verbtransitive
To put something firmly in place so it stays steady.
Like pressing a tent peg deep so the tent stands firm.
Help me settle this shelf so it does not wobble.
He settled the ladder firmly against the wall.
Similarset, place, position, seat, rest
Note

11
verbintransitive
To get married and begin a steady home life.
Like a boat finding a calm harbor to stay in.
His parents hoped he would marry and settle soon.
She settled young and raised three children.
Similarmarry
Note
12
verbintransitive
To end a court case by agreeing instead of letting a judge decide.
Like ending a game early because both teams agree on the score.
Both sides chose to settle rather than go to trial.
The company settled to avoid a long court case.
Note
13
verbtransitive or intransitive
To move into a new land and make homes there.
Like birds choosing an empty island to build their nests.
The newcomers came to settle the western plains.
People settled along the river long ago.
Similarcolonize, populate, people, occupy, inhabit
Oppositeabandon, depopulate
Note
14
verbtransitive
To pay off and close an account, sometimes for less than the full amount.
Like paying back a friend a smaller amount you both agree on.
They agreed to settle the debt for half its value.
She settled her credit card balance after the holidays.
Similarpay, clear, discharge, square, repay
Note
15
verbtransitive
To put something into its proper place so it sits well.
Like tucking a blanket so it lies smooth and even.
Help me settle the cushions on the couch.
She settled the baby comfortably in the crib.
Similarplace, put, position, arrange, tuck
Note
16
verbintransitive
To turn clear as bits of dirt sink down to the bottom.
Like dirt in a glass of water sinking down until the water looks clean.
Let the muddy water settle before you drink it.
The pond water settles overnight and looks clear by morning.
Similarclear, clarify
Oppositecloud
Note
17
verbintransitive
To sink down to the bottom of a liquid, the way dirt or grit does.
Like sand sinking to the bottom of a bucket of water.
The coffee grounds settle at the bottom of the cup.
Wait for the sand to settle before you scoop the water.
Similarsink, drop, fall, precipitate
Oppositerise, float
18
verbtransitive
To make bits of dirt or grit sink down to the bottom.
Like stirring in something that pulls dust down to the bottom of a jar.
Adding a pinch of gelatin helps settle the dregs in the juice.
The filter settles the grit before the water reaches the tap.
Similarprecipitate, deposit
19
verbtransitive
To end a legal case by agreeing on terms instead of finishing it in court.
Like two people ending an argument by agreeing on a deal instead of asking a judge to decide.
They decided to settle the case rather than face a long trial.
The company settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount.
Similarresolve, end, conclude
20
verbintransitive
To get steady work or a steady job and stay in it.
Like a bird finding the right branch and staying there.
After trying many jobs, she began to settle into nursing.
He finally settled into a steady career as an electrician.
Similaradjust, adapt
Note
21
verbtransitive
To help someone get set up in a home, job, or life.
Like helping a young plant into good soil so it can grow on its own.
Her parents worked hard to settle their children in good homes.
The inheritance helped settle him on a small farm of his own.
Similarestablish, install, place, start (entry)
22
verbtransitive
To press something down so it becomes firm and packed.
Like shaking a bag of chips so they pack down and take less room.
Tapping the jar helps settle the flour so more fits inside.
The rain settled the loose soil in the garden bed.
Similarcompact, pack, tamp, compress, consolidate
Oppositeloosen
23
verbintransitive
To sink down and become firm and packed over time.
Like fresh snow slowly sinking down and getting firmer.
The new soil will settle after a few weeks of rain.
The gravel path settled unevenly over the winter.
Similarcompact, pack, consolidate, subside
Oppositeloosen
24
verbtransitive
To make a liquid clean by letting the dirt in it sink down.
Like letting muddy water rest until the dirt drops and the top is clear.
Adding egg white helps settle the broth until it runs clear.
The old method settles the wine before it is bottled.
Similarclarify, clear, purify
Oppositecloud, muddy
Note
25
nounarchaic
A long wooden bench with a tall back and arms, with storage space under the seat.
Like a long bench and a storage box joined into one piece of furniture.
Grandmother kept her blankets inside the old settle by the fire.
Let us return now to the little girl we left feigning to sleep soundly upon a settle in the kitchen.
1880, Ellen Murray Beam, English translation of Captain Fracasse by Théophile GautierHere, settle means a long bench with arms and a high back.
Note
26
verbtransitive
To legally give money, property, or a title to a person for good.
Like signing papers that hand a gift to someone so it is truly and legally theirs.
The duke chose to settle the estate on his eldest son.
She settled a yearly income on her widowed sister.
Similarbestow, confer, grant, vest
Note
27
verbtransitive
To make ground or a road smooth, dry, and easy to travel on again.
Like a path drying out after rain until it is firm enough to walk on.
A few warm days helped settle the muddy track for the carts.
The crew settled the road before the festival traffic arrived.
Similardry, firm, harden
Note
28
verbintransitive
To become firm, dry, and hard, the way ground does after rain dries up.
Like wet mud turning hard and solid after a few sunny days.
The path will settle once the spring rains stop.
The field settled and hardened after a week of sun.
Similarfirm, harden, dry
Oppositesoften
29
verbtransitive
To move people into a new land so they live there and build homes.
Like moving a group of people into an empty area so they can start living there.
The government tried to settle farmers along the new frontier.
The company settled hundreds of families on the coastal plain.
Similarrelocate, house, plant, install, establish
Oppositedisplace, uproot, evict, expel
30
verbtransitive
To kill a person or animal.
The hunters moved in to settle the wounded beast quickly.
He swore he would settle the man who betrayed him.
Similarkill, dispatch, fell
Note
31
verb
To make something calm, or deal with it for good.
32
verbdialectalBritish
To force someone to be quiet.
33
verbobsoleteUS
To make someone the official minister of a church.
34
verbobsolete
To set aside money or land for a wife or husband to live on if widowed.
He sighs with most success that settles well.
1712, Samuel Garth, Epilogue to Cato
35
verb
For a cow or other farm animal, to start carrying young, or to cause this.
36
nounarchaic
A seat.
sit on a settle of joy with angels
c. 1348, Richard Rolle, The Form of Living
37
nounobsolete
A low place or a wide low step.
And from the bottom upon the ground, even to the lower settle, shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit.
1611, The Holy Bible, King James Version

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–24, 26–30

This comes from two Old English verbs that later merged: one from 'setl' meaning 'seat', and one from 'saht' meaning 'agreement' or 'peace'.

Meaning 25

From Old English 'setl', meaning a seat or a place to sit, going back to an ancient root meaning 'sit'.