dictated

4 definitions • 7 examples

past simple and past participle of

to give orders, or tell someone exactly what they must do, with total authority:

The UN will dictate the terms of troop withdrawal from the region.

[ + question word ] He disagrees with the government dictating what children are taught in schools.

[ + that ] The rules dictate that only running shoes must be worn on the track.

to influence something or make it necessary:

The party's change of policy has been dictated by its need to win back younger voters.

[ + that ] I wanted to take a year off, but my financial situation dictated that I got a job.

to speak something aloud for a person or machine to record what is said, so that it can be written down:

I dictated my order over the phone.

dictate something to someone She spent the morning dictating letters to her secretary.