settle
[verb]
Synonyms:
- put in order, adjust, order, regulate, straighten out, work out
- land, alight, come to rest, descend, light
- move to, dwell, inhabit, live, make one's home, put down roots, reside, set up home, take up residence
- colonize, people, pioneer, populate
- calm, lull, pacify, quell, quiet, quieten, reassure, relax, relieve, soothe
- pay, clear, discharge, square (up)
- often with on
or
upon: decide, agree, confirm, determine, establish, fix
- resolve, clear up, decide, put an end to, reconcile

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Antonyms: unsettle
Contrasted words: dislodge, unseat, uproot
Related Idioms: come to a decision (or conclusion), form a judgment, make a decision, bring to terms (or agreement), settle the score, settle up (or square) accounts
Related Words: assure, reassure, found, ground, lodge, seat, fix, seal, mediate, reconcile, straighten (out), flop (down), plop (down)

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

set‧tle S2 W2 /ˈsetl/ verb
[Language: Old English; Origin: setlan]

1. END ARGUMENT [intransitive and transitive] to end an argument or solve a disagreement
settle a dispute/lawsuit/conflict/argument etc
Rodman met with Kreeger to try and settle the dispute over his contract.
We hope the factions will be able to settle their differences (=agree to stop arguing) by peaceful means.
Forensic tests should settle the question of whether Bates was actually present at the scene of the crime.
settle with
She finally settled with her former employers for an undisclosed sum.
They might be willing to settle out of court (=come to an agreement without going to a court of law).

2. DECIDE [transitive usually passive] to decide what you are going to do, especially so that you can make definite arrangements:
Nothing’s settled yet.
It’s settled then. I’ll go back to the States in June.
‘She’s only 15.’ ‘That settles it (=that is enough information for a definite decision to be made)! We’re not taking her with us!’

3. START LIVING IN A PLACE
a) [intransitive, transitive usually passive] to go to a place where no people have lived permanently before and start to live there:
This territory was settled in the mid-1850s by German immigrants.
b) [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to go to live in a new place, and stay there for a long time
settle in
Many Jewish people settled in the Lower East Side.

4. COMFORTABLE [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put yourself or someone else in a comfortable position
settle yourself in/on etc something
Donna did not dare settle herself too comfortably into her seat, in case she fell asleep.
The dog settled on the grass to enjoy its bone.
A nurse settled the old man into a chair. ⇒ settle back

5. QUIET/CALM [intransitive and transitive] (also settle down) to become quiet and calm, or to make someone quiet and calm:
When the children had settled, Miss Brown gave out the new reading books.
She breathed deeply to settle her nerves (=stop herself from feeling worried or frightened).

6. MOVE DOWN [intransitive]
a) if dust, snow etc settles, it comes down and stays in one place
settle on
Snow settled on the roofs.
b) if a bird, insect etc settles, it flies down and rests on something
settle on
A fly kept trying to settle on his face.
c) if something such as a building or the ground settles, it sinks slowly to a lower level:
The crack in the wall is caused by the ground settling.

7. PAY MONEY [intransitive and transitive] to pay money that is owed
settle a bill/account/claim
I always settle my account in full each month.
These insurance companies take forever to settle a claim.
settle with
He was able to settle with his creditors, and avoid going to jail.

8. ORGANIZE BUSINESS/MONEY [transitive] to deal with all the details of a business or of someone’s money or property, so that nothing further needs to be done:
When it is finally settled, the Marshall estate may be worth no more than $100,000.
After her husband’s death, Jackie went to the city to settle his affairs.

9. settle a score/account to do something to hurt or cause trouble for someone because they have harmed or offended you:
Did he have any enemies – someone with an old score to settle?

10. sb’s eyes/gaze settles on somebody/something written if your eyes settle on someone or something, you notice them and look at them for a period of time:
Her gaze settled on a door, and she wondered what was on the other side of it.

11. FEELING/QUALITY [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] written if a quality or feeling settles over a place or person, it begins and has a strong effect
settle over/on
An uneasy silence settled over the room.
Depression settled over her like a heavy black cloud.

12. EXPRESSION [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] written if a particular expression settles on your face, it stays there:
A disapproving frown settled on her face.

13. STOMACH [intransitive and transitive] if your stomach settles, or if something settles it, it stops feeling uncomfortable or making you sick:
Georgia had taken pills to settle her stomach, but she was still throwing up every hour.
⇒ let the dust settle/wait for the dust to settle at dust¹(5)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

settle
verb
I. end an argument
ADV. amicably, peacefully Hopes of settling the conflict peacefully are fading.
satisfactorily The matter has not yet been satisfactorily settled.
eventually, finally | informally, out of court The company has agreed to settle out of court (= come to an agreement without going to court).
VERB + SETTLE attempt to, try to | agree to
PREP. with After six months, the company finally settled with the unions.
PHRASES an attempt to settle sth

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

settle
II. choose a permanent home
ADV. permanently He has now settled permanently in London.
eventually, finally | happily | down
VERB + SETTLE decide to, intend to
PHRASES be densely settled a fertile area that was densely settled in early times
be ready to settle down She felt she wasn't yet ready to settle down.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

settle
III. make sb/yourself comfortable
ADV. comfortably, happily, peacefully, snugly He settled himself more comfortably in his chair.
quickly, soon | back, down He settled back in his chair to watch television. She settled down for a quiet doze on the sofa.
VERB + SETTLE be unable to, can't/couldn't Unable to settle, she trailed around the house all day.
allow sb to, let sb She kept fussing around, refusing to let him settle.
help (to), help sb (to) I took a pill to help settle my nerves.
PHRASAL VERBS settle in/settle into sth
ADV. happily, nicely The kids settled happily into their new school.
quickly, soon

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

settle

settle a dispute/argument/conflict
Every effort was made to settle the dispute, without success.
settle a lawsuit/case
The city will pay $875,000 to settle the lawsuit.
settle a question/matter
It is the area of pricing which may settle the question of which to buy.
settle your differences (=agree to stop arguing)
The two recently met to settle their differences.
settle something finally/eventually
The case was finally settled by the Appeal Court.
settle something amicably (=in a friendly way, without using a court of law)
The dispute was settled amicably.
settle out of court (=come to an agreement without going to a court of law)
She talked to a lawyer and settled out of court with her former employer.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲