settle
settle — verb
1. to bring a disagreement, argument, or legal case to a final end by making a join
to bring a disagreement, argument, or legal case to a final end by making a joint decision that both sides accept.
The two companies settled their dispute over the patent rights out of court.
settle a dispute/argument/case
Eri and Tanvi settled their argument about whose turn it was to clean the kitchen.
After months of talks, the contract disagreement was settled by a neutral advisor.
Asher refused to settle until the insurance company offered a fair amount for the damage.
- resolve
more formal, used for problems and issues rather than personal arguments
- reach an agreement
emphasises the outcome rather than the process
- negotiate
focuses on the discussion process, not necessarily the final decision
文法句型
settle + noun phrase (dispute, argument, case)
settle + for + noun phrase (amount, terms)
settle + on/upon + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common in legal and workplace contexts. The object is typically a disagreement, dispute, case, argument, or lawsuit.
常見錯誤
2. to decide all the final details of a plan, arrangement, price, or schedule so th
to decide all the final details of a plan, arrangement, price, or schedule so that nothing remains uncertain or unfinished.
The couple still need to settle the date for their wedding reception.
settle the date/price/details
Anya settled the price of the used car with the seller after a short negotiation.
Once we settle the travel plans, I will book the hotel rooms for everyone.
Dahlia and Paul finally settled the terms of the rental agreement before signing the contract.
- leave open
to keep undecided
文法句型
settle + noun phrase (date, price, terms, details)
用法筆記
The object is always a detail or plan that needs a final decision — the date of an event, the price of a purchase, or the terms of an agreement. Not used with personal opinions.
常見錯誤
3. to move your body into a relaxed, comfortable position, usually after finding a
to move your body into a relaxed, comfortable position, usually after finding a suitable spot to sit or lie down.
Sade settled into the armchair with a cup of hot tea and a novel.
settle into [furniture/place]
The old cat settled on the soft blanket by the fireplace and fell asleep.
Layla settled back against the cushions and closed her eyes for a short nap.
Niran settled the sleeping baby gently into the crib without waking her.
- get comfortable
more informal, used for the same physical action
- nestle
suggests a warmer, more affectionate movement
- curl up
specific to a curled body position, usually on a sofa or bed
- get up
the opposite action of sitting or lying down
文法句型
settle + adverb phrase (into, on, back)
settle + noun phrase + adverb phrase
用法筆記
Often used with an adverb or prepositional phrase (into, on, back, down). The transitive form ('settle someone somewhere') is common when a person carefully places another person or thing into a comfortable spot.
4. to choose a particular place and begin living there for a long time, especially
to choose a particular place and begin living there for a long time, especially after having moved around or travelled.
After travelling for three years, Sofia settled in a small fishing town by the coast.
settle in [place] — establish a home
The Chen family settled in Canada after leaving their home country during the war.
Many young professionals settle in big cities where they can find better job opportunities.
Niran's great-grandparents settled in this village over sixty years ago and never moved again.
- put down roots
more informal and figurative; suggests deep community involvement
- establish oneself
more formal; implies building a career and life
- move to
weaker — does not carry the sense of permanence
- move around
to change location frequently
- wander
to travel without a fixed destination
文法句型
settle + in/at + place
settle + region/country/city
用法筆記
The subject is usually a person, family, or group. The place is introduced with 'in' (a country, city, town, or region) or 'at' (a more specific location).
常見錯誤
5. to begin taking part in a match or competition with full focus and a calm, stead
to begin taking part in a match or competition with full focus and a calm, steady mindset after the initial warm-up or nervousness.
The tennis player took a deep breath and settled before serving the first ball.
After a few shaky moves, the chess champion settled and began playing with confidence.
settle + and + begin playing
The basketball team needed five minutes to settle into the match and find their rhythm.
Jin settled behind the bowling line and released the ball with a steady hand.
- get into the game
informal, describes finding a rhythm
- find your stride
idiomatic, emphasises reaching a steady performance level
- get rattled
to become nervous and lose focus during play
文法句型
settle (into) + game/match
settle + to + verb
用法筆記
Primarily used in sports commentary and informal conversation about games. The sense focuses on the mental transition from preparation to active, focused play.
6. for a group of people to arrive in a new region and build homes, create farms or
for a group of people to arrive in a new region and build homes, create farms or towns, and begin living there as a community.
European families first settled the east coast of North America in the early 1600s.
settle + region — to colonise an area
The river valley was settled by farmers who cleared the thick forest to plant crops.
passive: be settled by [group]
This remote island was never settled by any human group because of its rocky coastline.
Explorers reported that the fertile valley could easily be settled by families looking for farmland.
- abandon
to leave a place empty or uninhabited
文法句型
settle + region/land
be settled by + group
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 5: sense 5 focuses on an individual or family choosing a home; sense 6 focuses on a group establishing a settlement in a new area, often with historical or colonial overtones.
7. When small pieces of a solid substance slowly fall through air or liquid and sto
When small pieces of a solid substance slowly fall through air or liquid and stop moving, they settle. For example, dust falling onto furniture, snow landing on the ground, or sand grains sinking to the bottom of a jar of water.
After the storm, a fine layer of dust settled on every surface in the living room.
settle + on [surface] for particles coming to rest
Linh let the muddy water sit overnight so the sand could settle at the bottom.
settle + at the bottom for sinking sediment
The snow settled on the rooftops and covered the garden with a white blanket.
Fine ash from the volcano settled over the farms three miles away.
- rise
upward movement of particles or bubbles
文法句型
settle + prepositional phrase (on/to/at the bottom)
用法筆記
Subject is typically a fine substance (dust, snow, sand, sediment, grounds) rather than a person. Not used for large objects falling — that sense is covered by drop or sink.
常見錯誤
8. To pay all the money you owe on a bill, loan, insurance claim, or other financia
To pay all the money you owe on a bill, loan, insurance claim, or other financial account, especially to close it completely so no further payment is needed.
Hannah settled her credit card bill before the due date to avoid paying interest.
settle + bill for paying off a statement
The insurance company settled the claim within two weeks of the car accident.
settle + claim for insurance payments
Ishaan finally settled his student loan five years after finishing his degree.
Yara settled her mother's medical bills by selling her old car.
- owe
being in debt rather than ending it
文法句型
settle + noun phrase (bill/debt/claim/account)
用法筆記
Object is always a financial obligation: bill, debt, claim, account, loan, invoice. Cannot be used for the person you owe money to (settle the bank, not settle the lender).
常見錯誤
9. To stop feeling nervous, upset, or excited and become quiet and relaxed, or to h
To stop feeling nervous, upset, or excited and become quiet and relaxed, or to help someone or something become quiet and relaxed.
The crying baby finally settled when Nora held her close and hummed softly.
intransitive: person becomes calm
Owen took a few slow deep breaths to settle his nerves before the job interview.
transitive: settle + nerves
A cup of warm ginger tea helped settle Sumin's upset stomach after the long bus ride.
The excited children took a while to settle after the birthday party games.
- calm down
more common in spoken English; always intransitive or reflexive
- compose oneself
more formal; implies deliberate effort
文法句型
settle (intransitive)
settle + noun phrase (nerves/stomach/child)
用法筆記
Frequently used with body-related nouns: nerves, stomach, heart. For people as objects it often describes calming children or animals; for adults, the reflexive settle yourself or intransitive settle down is more common.
常見錯誤
10. To reach a steady level or fixed state after a period of change, movement, or un
To reach a steady level or fixed state after a period of change, movement, or uncertainty, and then stay at that level without further change. Used for prices, weather, conditions, or abstract forces.
House prices in the area finally settled after two years of rapid increases.
settle for prices reaching a steady level
Karim decided to wait for the political situation to settle before investing in the region.
settle for a situation becoming stable
The weather is expected to settle by the weekend after several days of heavy rain and strong winds.
Tariro waited for her heart rate to settle before continuing her run.
- fluctuate
to keep changing up and down
文法句型
settle + at/into + noun phrase (level/state/pattern)
用法筆記
Subject is a situation, condition, or measurable quantity (price, rate, weather, situation). Not used for personal emotional calming — that sense belongs to BECOME CALM (sense 9). The expression let the dust settle means waiting for a confusing or changing situation to become clear before acting.
常見錯誤
11. To punish or harm someone who has previously cheated or offended you, as a delib
To punish or harm someone who has previously cheated or offended you, as a deliberate act of revenge.
After losing the championship match last year, the team was eager to settle the score this season.
fixed expression: settle the score
Hamza used the meeting to settle an old score with a colleague who had stolen his idea.
fixed expression: settle an old score
The attack was believed to be a way of settling a score between two rival gangs.
Élise saw the debate as a chance to settle a score with the politician who had lied about her work.
- forgive
to let go of the desire for revenge
文法句型
settle + a score / an old score
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed expressions settle a score or settle an old score. The score refers figuratively to a past injury or wrong. Cannot take a person as direct object (settle him is incorrect; settle a score with him is correct).
常見錯誤
settle — noun
1. a kind of long wooden seat, designed with armrests and a tall back, that has a s
a kind of long wooden seat, designed with armrests and a tall back, that has a storage space hidden beneath the seat
The old inn had a large settle by the fireplace where travelers warmed themselves.
collocation: settle by the fireplace
Élise kept her winter blankets inside the settle that stood against the dining-room wall.
collocation: settle stood against [surface]
Obi lifted the settle's seat and stored the firewood underneath.
An oak settle with carved armrests filled most of the kitchen wall in old farmhouses.
Visitors to the museum admired the 17th-century settle with its tall, carved back panel.
- bench
a general term for any long seat; a settle is a specific type of bench with a back, arms, and storage
用法筆記
Rare in modern everyday speech; found mainly in descriptions of historical interiors, antique furniture, and traditional pubs or inns. The word is especially associated with British and European domestic architecture from the 16th to 19th centuries.