Meaning of settle In English

• 0 to reach a decision or an agreement about something, or to end a disagreement:

  • Good, that's all settled - you send out the invitations for the party, and I'll organize the food.

  • [ + question word ] They haven't yet settled when the wedding is going to be.

  • "The tickets are €40 each." "Well, that settles that - I can't afford that much."

  • I'd like to get this matter settled once and for all (= reach a final decision on it).

  • The details of the contract have not yet been settled.

  • Our lawyer advised us that it would be better to settle out of court (= reach an agreement in a legal case without it being decided in a court of law).

  • It took months to settle (= bring to an end) the dispute/strike.

  • My father and I have agreed finally to settle our differences (= stop arguing).

• 1 to relax into a comfortable position:

  • After dinner we settled in front of the television for the evening.

  • The dentist told her patient to settle back in the chair.

  • He settled himself down with a newspaper, and waited for the flight to arrive.

• 2 to go and live somewhere, especially permanently:

  • After they got married, they settled in Brooklyn.

  • America was first settled by people who came across from Asia over 25,000 years ago.

• 3 to move to a lower level and stay there; to drop:

  • The house had been empty for years, and dust had settled on all the surfaces.

  • Do you think the snow will settle (= remain on the ground and other surfaces without melting)?

  • The contents of this package may settle (= fall towards the bottom of the container and so seem to be less).

• 4 to pay, especially money that you owe:

  • Please settle your account/bill without further delay.

  • It took the insurance company months to settle my claim.

  • formal Payment of your account is now overdue, and we must ask you to settle (= pay the money you owe) immediately.

• 5 to become quiet and calm, or to make something or someone do this:

  • The weather is expected to settle towards the end of the week.

  • I'll call you back as soon as I've settled the kids for the night.

  • Before a performance, she takes three deep breaths to settle her nerves.

  • We're very busy this week, but things should settle (down) a bit after the weekend.

  • UK Joe's parents are very worried about him because he doesn't seem to be able to settle to (= to give his whole attention to) anything.

• 6 to reach and remain at a certain level or in a certain state:

  • The pound rose slightly against the dollar today, then settled at $1.53.

  • A peaceful expression settled on her face.

  • After the recent riots, an uneasy calm has settled on the city.

• 7 to get or to become comfortable:

  • [ T ] Campbell settled herself in front of a blazing fire.

  • [ I ] He settled back in his chair and took out a book.

• 8 to reach a decision or an agreement about something, or to end a disagreement:

  • [ T ] Rogers paid $2 million to settle the lawsuit.

  • [ T ] Americans turn to a dictionary to settle questions of language.

  • [ I ] Negotiators are hopeful the two sides will settle.

  • The defendant agreed to settle out of court.

• 9 to pay money owed:

  • He sold his photographs to settle some old debts.

• 10 to live in a place or to go somewhere to live, esp. permanently:

  • [ I ] After they got married, they settled in Virginia.

  • [ T ] Immigrants settled this island two hundred years ago.

  • [ I ] fig. An early-evening glow settles on the city (= the city has begun to glow).

• 11 to move to a lower level and stay there; drop:

  • Dust can settle into the wet paint and spoil the finish.

  • Unused farm machinery settled in high weeds behind the house.

• 12 to pay money that you owe:

  • settle a bill/debt

  • Only half of their clients settled their accounts on time.

• 13 to end an argument by reaching an agreement to do something:

  • settle a dispute/argument/lawsuit

  • The company paid $5 million to former employees to settle claims of unfair dismissal.

  • Union and management were urged to settle their differences.

  • The company decided it was cheaper to settle rather than fight the case in court.

• 14 to make a final decision about something:

  • We need a final meeting to settle the matter once and for all.

  • OK, so that's settled then.

• 15 if prices, values, etc. settle, they stop moving up or down:

  • They expect house price inflation to settle around 10%.

  • settle at sth After a rocky ride, shares in the entertainment company settled at $13.

• 16 to end an argument without having to go to a court of law, usually by agreeing to the payment of a particular amount of money:

  • In view of the legal costs, they decided to settle out of court.