Settled Settle I Finally Make ˈsetl Matter Time

• to settle a dispute/an argument/a matter
• it's time you settled your differences with your father.
• i want this thing settled.
• there is pressure on the unions to settle.

settle

1. to put an end to an argument or a disagreement
• to settle a dispute/an argument/a matter
• It's time you settled your differences with your father.
• I want this thing settled.
• There is pressure on the unions to settle.
• The company has agreed to settle out of court (= come to an agreement without going to court).
2. to decide or arrange something finally
• It's all settled—we're leaving on the nine o'clock plane.
• Good, that's settled, then.
• Bob will be there? That settles it. I'm not coming.
• He had to settle his affairs (= arrange all his personal business) in Paris before he could return home.
• It's been settled that we leave on the nine o'clock plane.
3. to make a place your permanent home
• She settled in Vienna after her father's death.
4. to make your permanent home in a country or an area as colonists
• This region was settled by the Dutch in the nineteenth century.
5. to make yourself or somebody else comfortable in a new position
• Ellie settled back in her seat.
• He settled himself comfortably in his usual chair.
• I settled her on the sofa and put a blanket over her.
6. to put something carefully in a position so that it does not move
• She settled the blanket around her knees.
7. to become or make somebody/something become calm or relaxed
• The baby wouldn't settle.
• I took a pill to help settle my nerves.
• This should settle your stomach.
8. to fall from above and come to rest on something; to stay for some time on something
• Dust had settled on everything.
• Two birds settled on the fence.
• I don't think the snow will settle (= remain on the ground without melting).
• His gaze settled on her face.
9. to sink slowly down; to make something do this
• The contents of the package may have settled in transit.
10. to pay the money that you owe
• Please settle your bill before leaving the hotel.
• The insurance company is refusing to settle her claim.
• Let me settle with you for the meal.
• I'll pay now—we can settle up later.
11. to wait for a situation to become clear or certain
• He waited for the dust to settle after the election before making any new decisions.
12. to hurt or punish somebody who has harmed or cheated you in the past
• ‘Who would do such a thing?’ ‘Maybe someone with an old score to settle.’

Extra Examples

• After much deliberation, he finally settled on a fur rug.
• After six months the company finally settled with the unions.
• Don’t drink it yet. Let the grounds settle.
• Finally they settled down to watch an old movie.
• He has now settled permanently in London.
• He settled back in his chair to watch television.
• He settled himself more comfortably in his chair.
• He was anxious and couldn’t settle.
• Hopes of settling the conflict peacefully are fading.
• I hoped that the dust would settle quickly and the incident be forgotten.
• I ran well but still had to settle for second.
• She felt she wasn’t yet ready to settle down.
• She kept fussing around, refusing to let him settle.
• She settled down for a quiet doze on the sofa.
• Slowly dusk began to settle.
• The company has agreed to settle out of court.
• The kids settled happily into their new school.
• The matter has not yet been finally settled.
• They prepared to settle in for the night.
• Unable to settle, she trailed around the house all day.
• a fertile area that was densely settled in early times
• All the loose ends should be settled within 48 hours.
• Bob will be there? That settles it. I’m not coming.
• Good, that’s settled, then.
• He had to settle his affairs in Paris before he could return home.
• I’ll pay now—we can settle up later.
• I’m delighted that all this has been settled amicably.
• It’s all settled —we’re leaving on the nine o’clock plane.
• It’s time you settled your differences with your father.
• Some snow fell but it didn’t settle.
• Talks will be held in an attempt to settle the dispute.
• The union has been urged to settle as quickly as possible.
• They used the last of the money to settle their debts.
• This argument must be settled once and for all.
• This is a matter that can only be settled by a family court.
• When the dust had settled we saw the piles of rubble.

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they settle
• he / she / it settles
• past simple settled
• past participle settled
• -ing form settling

Word Origin

• verb Old English setlan ‘to seat, place’, from the noun settle.