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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Dictate Meaning, Examples & Correct Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：determine decisively (dictate)

dictate 🔊

/dɪkˈteɪt/

To have a controlling or decisive influence on something; to determine the way something must be done.

Manager dictating project timeline to team in office

determine decisively 🔊

➕

/dɪˈtɜːrmɪn dɪˈsaɪsɪvli/

To exert controlling power or influence over a situation or outcome, often authoritatively.

📁 Category：Laws & Regulations 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'dictare' (to say repeatedly), from 'dicere' (to say).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a 'dictator' who dictates rules - to dictate is to control decisively.

📖 Example

The results of the market research will dictate our future product development strategy. 🔊 The results of the market research will dictate our future product development strategy.

🔗 Collocations

dictate policy – to determine the direction of policy authoritatively

dictate terms – to impose conditions or requirements unilaterally

dictate conditions – to set forth the necessary circumstances for an agreement

🔄 Synonyms

determine (v.) – To decide or control something firmly.

command (v.) – To give an order with authority.

prescribe (v.) – To lay down a rule or course of action.

🚫 Antonyms

follow (v.) – To obey or comply with instructions.

yield (v.) – To submit to authority.

obey (v.) – To comply with orders.

🌱 Derivatives

dictation (n.) – The action of dictating words to be written down.

dictator (n.) – A ruler with absolute power.

dictatorial (adj.) – Relating to a dictator; overbearing.

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Latin 'dictare', meaning 'to say repeatedly'. In ancient Rome, officials dictated to scribes. Later evolved to mean 'to command or determine authoritatively'.

Meaning 2：speak for transcription (dictate)

dictate 🔊

/dɪkˈteɪt/

To say words aloud for someone else to write down or for a machine to record.

Person dictating speech while transcriber types on laptop

speak for transcription 🔊

➕

/spiːk fɔːr trænˈskrɪpʃən/

To utter words aloud so that someone else can write them down or a machine can record them verbatim.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Before the invention of voice recognition software, busy executives often had to dictate letters to their secretaries. 🔊 Before the invention of voice recognition software, busy executives often had to dictate letters to their secretaries.

🔗 Collocations

dictate a letter – to orally compose a letter for someone to write down

dictate to a secretary – to speak while a secretary writes or types the words

dictate into a recorder – to speak into a recording device for later transcription

🔄 Synonyms

speak (v.) – To say words aloud.

recite (v.) – To repeat aloud from memory.

enunciate (v.) – To pronounce words clearly.

🌱 Derivatives

dictation (n.) – The act of speaking words for another to write.

dictaphone (n.) – A device used for recording speech for transcription.

dictating (adj.) – Relating to the act of dictating.