Word
dictate
Meanings
To say words aloud for someone else to write down or record.
To control or strongly influence what happens, often by setting rules or conditions.
Definition
To dictate is to say words aloud so that someone else can write them down or record them.
To dictate means to speak or give instructions in a way that another person writes down, types, or records your words. It is commonly used for letters, notes, or messages when you do not write them yourself. It can also mean to control what happens by setting rules or conditions that others must follow.
Examples
- I asked my assistant to dictate the email while I reviewed the attachments.
- You can dictate the address to me, and I’ll enter it into the system.
- She refused to let office politics dictate her decisions on the project.
- They tried to dictate the terms of the partnership, but the other side pushed back.
- The schedule will dictate how much time we can spend on each section of the workshop.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse "dictate" with "dedicate" because they look similar but have different meanings and pronunciation.
More at C1 level
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More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.