reach, make, or come to a decision about something
"We finally decided after lengthy deliberations"
bring to an end; settle conclusively
"The case was decided"
"The judge decided the case in favor of the plaintiff"
"The father adjudicated when the sons were quarreling over their inheritance"
influence or determine
"The vote in New Hampshire often decides the outcome of the Presidential election"
to resolve (a contest, problem, dispute, etc.); to choose, determine, or settle
"The committee will decide whether to approve the new project proposal tomorrow."
In plain English: To decide means to make up your mind about what you want to do after thinking about it.
"She decided to order pizza for dinner."
Usage: Use decide when you make a choice or come to a conclusion after weighing options. It takes a direct object like "decide the winner" or an infinitive phrase like "decide to leave."
The word "decide" comes from the Latin phrase decidere, which originally meant to cut down or cut off. It entered English through Old French and Middle English, evolving from that physical sense of cutting into its current meaning of making a choice.