WordValedictate
to command with authority
In more detail
1. (verb) to speak words aloud for someone else to write down or record
2. (verb) to give orders or instructions in a forceful way; to control or decide something for others
Examples
- 1. The doctor dictated notes into a recording device after seeing each patient.
- 2. The manager dictated the terms of the new contract without asking for input from the team.
How to use dictate
Dictate has two main uses: the transactional sense of speaking aloud for transcription (now less common due to technology), and the more frequent sense of imposing one's will or controlling outcomes. In the second sense, it often appears in phrases like 'dictate terms' or 'dictate policy,' where it emphasizes authoritarian control. The verb carries a strong connotation of power imbalance.
Common phrases
- dictate terms
- dictate policy
- dictate a letter
- dictate to someone
- dictate the pace
Synonyms
prescribe · impose · order · command · mandate
Opposites
suggest · request · obey
Word family
dictation · dictator · dictatorial · dictatorially
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use dictate when they mean 'suggest' or 'advise,' forgetting that dictate implies forceful imposition rather than gentle recommendation.
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