Settle

/ˈsɛt.əl/

Meaning & Definition

verb

To resolve or reach an agreement about something.

After hours of negotiation, they finally managed to settle the dispute.

To establish a home or community in a new place.

Many families decided to settle in the Midwest during the westward expansion.

To make oneself or another person comfortable.

She settled into her new office with excitement.

To cause to become calm or quiet.

The teacher tried to settle the restless students before the lesson started.

To arrange or fix definitively.

They settled the details of the event well in advance.

Middle English: from Old French 's'eslit', from a variant of 's'aleirs' meaning 'to set down, place'.

settle down

To begin to live a quieter life in one place.

settle for less

To accept something not as good as what was desired.

settle a score

To take revenge or resolve a vendetta.

settlement

The act of reaching an agreement.

settler

A person who moves to a new area to live.

settled

Established or fixed in a particular position.

To compromise or make do.

I had to settle for a smaller apartment than I wanted.

To give up on something better.

She didn't want to settle, but the job market was tight.