dictate
Meaning
To dictate is to prescribe or lay down authoritative rules or instructions, often with an implication of power or control, particularly in contexts where the speaker's authority shapes the actions or thoughts of others.
💡 While "dictate" can refer to the act of commanding or instructing, it is important to distinguish it from mere suggestion; it often connotes a lack of choice or agency for the recipient.
Example Sentences
Word in Context
On
a
rainy
Saturday
morning
,
Clara
arranged
the
table
for
brunch
and
checked
her
phone
for
messages
,
mentally
sketching
the
next
few
hours
.
She
liked
to
plan
,
and
although
she
would
never
dictate
how
her
partner
spent
the
morning
,
her
choices
nevertheless
set
the
tone
for
the
day
.
He
responded
with
a
quiet
smile
and
brewed
coffee
more
quickly
than
usual
,
implicitly
accepting
her
subtle
schedule
.
They
moved
through
small
tasks
—
clearing
dishes
,
folding
laundry
,
making
a
shopping
list
—
each
action
following
the
unspoken
rhythm
they
had
developed
.
When
a
sudden
idea
prompted
Clara
to
change
plans
and
visit
a
nearby
gallery
,
her
partner
agreed
without
protest
,
trusting
that
flexibility
could
coexist
with
a
little
structure
.
By
noon
they
felt
content
:
a
day
that
had
been
organized
but
unforced
,
where
mutual
respect
quietly
governed
their
choices
.
Common Phrases
dictate terms
dictate policy
dictate behavior
Synonyms
Related Words
Never forget "dictate"
Set a daily goal, reinforce with word cards and games, and track your progress in the Vocab5000 app — learn every C1 level word permanently with our science-based repetition system.
