decides
Settles the matter
Decides is the third-person singular of decide—to make a choice or reach a conclusion after consideration.
Someone decides what to do, where to go, or which option to take.
A judge decides a case.
The word often appears with whether or if: She decides whether to stay or leave.
What decides an outcome is what settles or determines it: One vote decides the election.
Final result of events
- resultWhat follows a cause
- fatePredetermined course of events
- consequenceResult of an action
- shapesExternal outlines of things
influences · controls · dictates · governs · settles · establishes · fixes · concludes
Comes to rest
- agreementShared position between parties
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
arbitration · reconciliation · consensus · accord · understanding · arrangement · solution · concludes
Act of selecting
- selectionChosen item or items
- optionAvailable course of action
- preferenceFavored choice among alternatives
- picksSelections from options
opts · elects · alternative · selects · favors · discretion · volition · inclination
Formal legal determination
- verdictOfficial court decision
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
- trialJudicial examination of claims
sentence · deliberation · adjudicates · rules · pronounces · decrees · finds · holds
outcome
Final result of events
- resultWhat follows a cause
- fatePredetermined course of events
- consequenceResult of an action
shapes · influences · controls · dictates · governs · settles · establishes · fixes · concludes · clinches
settles
Comes to rest
- agreementShared position between parties
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
mediation · arbitration · reconciliation · consensus · accord · understanding · arrangement · solution · concludes · tie-breaker
choice
Act of selecting
- selectionChosen item or items
- optionAvailable course of action
- preferenceFavored choice among alternatives
picks · opts · elects · alternative · selects · favors · discretion · volition · inclination · leaning
ruling
Formal legal determination
- verdictOfficial court decision
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
trial · sentence · deliberation · adjudicates · rules · pronounces · decrees · finds · holds · orders
- taking actionacts, moves, responds, take action, go for it
decideshesitates
Shows momentary indecision
wavers · vacillates · dithers · equivocates · waffles
- deciding gameContest determining overall winner
- deciding setFinal game after split
decide, decided, deciding, decider, undecided, deciders, undecidable