dictate

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈdɪkˌteɪt/
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˌdɪkˈteɪt/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: dic‧tate

Verb

Plain form dictate

Third-person singular dictates

Past tense dictated

Past participle dictated

Present participle dictating

1. If you dictate a document (something written), you say the words so another person can write or type them.

   I dictated the letter to my secretary.

2. If X dictates Y, X requires Y, or X causes Y.

   Circumstances dictate that we must be ready to fight.

Related words

• dictation
• dictator