verb
settle
SEH-tuhl
verb
1
To resolve a dispute, disagreement, or debt, often by reaching an agreement.
"The two companies settled the lawsuit out of court."
"They finally settled their differences over dinner."
2
To make a home or establish oneself permanently in a place.
"They settled in a small village after years of traveling."
"The family settled in Canada in the 1990s."
3
To become calm, still, or come to rest.
"The dust finally settled after the demolition."
"Give the tea a moment to settle before pouring."
How to Use Settle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo resolve something, to make a permanent home somewhere, or to become calm and still.
Common pairings
settle a dispute
settle down
settle in
Word Forms
settled past tense, settles plural, Settles plural, settles singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “settle”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The two companies _____ the lawsuit out of court.
Etymology
From Old English setlan ("to seat, put to rest"), related to setl ("seat"); merged over time with a separate verb meaning "to reconcile."