{
    "term": "dictate",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "c1",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "dictate",
            "heSheIt": "dictates"
        },
        "pastSimple": "dictated",
        "pastParticiple": "dictated",
        "ingForm": "dictating"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to tell somebody what to do, especially in an annoying way",
            "sensetop": "dictate something (to somebody)dictate how, what, etc…/that…",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They are in no position to **dictate terms** *(= tell other people what to do)*.",
                    "contextForm": "dictate something (to somebody)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "What right do they have to dictate how we live our lives?",
                    "contextForm": "dictate how, what, etc…/that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It was only the king or queen who could dictate policy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This political stance had been dictated by the Prime Minister."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to control or influence how something happens",
            "sensetop": "dictate (something)dictate where, what, etc…dictate that…",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "When we take our vacations is very much dictated by Greg's work schedule.",
                    "contextForm": "dictate (something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's generally your job that dictates where you live now.",
                    "contextForm": "dictate where, what, etc…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The social conventions of the day dictated that she should remain at home with her parents.",
                    "contextForm": "dictate that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "What followed dictated the course of his life."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This is clearly the best choice, unless financial considerations dictate otherwise."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She had to remain indoors for 30 days before the wedding, as custom dictates."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "determine"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to say words for somebody else to write down or to be recorded",
            "sensetop": "dictate (something) (to somebody)",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She dictated the letter to her assistant."
                },
                {
                    "text": "OK, you write, and I'll dictate."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Just dictate into the machine—we'll transcribe it later."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Literature and writing"]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/dɪkˈteɪt/",
                "audio": "di/dictate/dictate__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/dɪkˈteɪts/",
                "audio": "di/dictate/dictates__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/dɪkˈteɪtɪd/",
                "audio": "di/dictate/dictated__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/dɪkˈteɪtɪŋ/",
                "audio": "di/dictate/dictating__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈdɪkteɪt/",
                "audio": "di/dictate/dictate__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈdɪkteɪts/",
                "audio": "di/dictate/dictates__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈdɪkteɪtɪd/",
                "audio": "di/dictate/dictated__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈdɪkteɪtɪŋ/",
                "audio": "di/dictate/dictating__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late 16th cent. (in sense (1)): from Latin dictat- ‘dictated’, from the verb dictare."
}