decision

decision — noun

1. a conclusion you reach after thinking about the different options you have and c

1.nounA2
Definition

a conclusion you reach after thinking about the different options you have and choosing among them

Example

Layla's decision to study medicine surprised her entire family at the dinner table.

decision + to-infinitive

The committee reached a decision after three hours of heated debate among the members.

collocation: reach a decision

Common collocations
  • make a decision
  • reach a decision
  • come to a decision
  • arrive at a decision
  • difficult decision
  • final decision
  • right decision
  • wrong decision
Synonyms
  • choice

    more general; decision implies more thought and consequence

  • resolution

    more formal, often a formal statement voted on by a group

  • determination

    stronger sense of firmness; can also mean the act of deciding

Grammar Patterns

decision + to-infinitive

make/reach + decision

Common Mistakes

I made a decide to study abroad.
I made a decision to study abroad.
'decision' is the noun form; 'decide' is the verb.

2. the ability to make choices quickly and firmly, without hesitating because of do

2.nounB2
Definition

the ability to make choices quickly and firmly, without hesitating because of doubt or uncertainty

Example

Commander Ziad earned his platoon's respect for his swift decision when enemy fire trapped the convoy.

swift decision (collocation with concrete scenario)

Her lack of decision cost the company a valuable business opportunity in Asia.

collocation: lack of decision

Common collocations
  • lack of decision
  • show decision
  • act with decision
  • quick decision
  • speed of decision
Synonyms
  • decisiveness

    more common in modern English; decision (sense 2) is slightly more formal

  • resolve

    emphasises strength of purpose rather than speed of choosing

  • determination

    focuses on persistence, not on speed of decision-making

Antonyms
  • indecision

    the inability to make choices; the opposite of decisiveness

Grammar Patterns

show + decision

lack of + decision

Usage Note

This uncountable sense is used mainly in formal or written contexts. In everyday speech, 'decisiveness' is more common.

3. in combat sports like boxing, a result that is decided by adding up the scores g

3.nounC1
Definition

in combat sports like boxing, a result that is decided by adding up the scores given by the judges rather than by knocking the opponent down

Example

The champion retained his title by a unanimous decision after twelve rounds.

collocation: unanimous decision

Many fans in the arena booed when the fight ended in a split decision.

collocation: split decision

Common collocations
  • unanimous decision
  • split decision
  • majority decision
  • by decision
  • win by decision
  • judges' decision
Synonyms
  • points victory

    emphasises the scoring method rather than the judges' role

Antonyms
  • knockout

    a win by physically putting the opponent down rather than by judges' scores

Grammar Patterns

by + decision

unanimous/split + decision

Usage Note

Common types of judge decisions in boxing: 'unanimous decision' (all judges agree on the winner), 'split decision' (two judges favour one fighter, one favours the other), and 'majority decision' (two judges agree, one scores a draw).

4. in baseball, a statistic that records for a pitcher either a winning outcome or

4.nounC1
Definition

in baseball, a statistic that records for a pitcher either a winning outcome or a losing one, determined by the team's results while that pitcher is on the mound

Example

The starting pitcher earned the decision after seven strong innings on the mound.

collocation: earn the decision

Christopher got a no-decision because he left the game with the score tied.

collocation: no-decision

Common collocations
  • earn the decision
  • get the decision
  • win decision
  • loss decision
  • no-decision
  • credit with a decision

Grammar Patterns

earn + decision

get + no-decision

Usage Note

If a pitcher leaves the game before the opposing team takes the lead or ties the game, and that pitcher's team is ahead at the time of departure, he or she may earn a 'win'. If the team loses while that pitcher was responsible, it is a 'loss'. If neither condition clearly applies, the pitcher gets a 'no-decision'.

5. the mental activity of making a choice, including the thinking and weighing of o

5.nounB1
Definition

the mental activity of making a choice, including the thinking and weighing of options that lead to a conclusion

Example

The board's decision about whether to accept the takeover offer required weeks of careful analysis.

decision + about whether to (process-focused)

Sana spent months comparing salaries, climates, and school systems before making her decision about emigrating.

emphasises weighing options, not the final choice

Common collocations
  • decision-making
  • process of decision
  • involved in the decision
  • speed of decision
Synonyms
  • decision-making

    a compound noun that more clearly describes the process; less formal

  • resolution

    can mean the act of resolving, but usually implies the final outcome

Grammar Patterns

decision + of + whether-clause

involved in + decision

Usage Note

This sense refers to the process of deciding (roughly equivalent to 'decision-making'), not the choice itself. Distinguish from sense 1, where 'decision' means the specific choice reached.

Idioms

reserve (your) decision/judgement

idiom

To wait before making a final choice or opinion about something.

The judge decided to reserve her decision until next week.

Maya will reserve judgment until she reads the full report.

decision — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Decision, choice, ruling, verdict, and resolution all refer to a conclusion reached after consideration, but they differ in scope and register. 'Choice' is the most general word — it simply means picking between options ('I made a choice between tea and coffee'). A 'decision' is a choice that involves more thought and carries consequences ('the decision to sell the house'). 'Ruling' is the formal decision of a judge or official authority ('the court's ruling on the appeal'). 'Verdict' is the specific decision of a jury in a criminal trial ('the jury reached a verdict of not guilty'). 'Resolution' is a formal decision adopted by a group through voting ('the committee passed a resolution to increase funding'). In daily language: you make a decision about your career, make a choice between two desserts, wait for a jury's verdict, accept a judge's ruling, and support a committee's resolution.

choice ↗ruling ↗verdict ↗resolution ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • make a decision
  • reach a decision
  • come to a decision
  • arrive at a decision

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Decision comes from the Latin word 'decisio', which was formed from 'decidere' meaning 'to cut off' or 'to decide'. The original idea was that making a decision 'cuts off' all other possibilities. The word travelled through Old French 'decision' before entering English in the 1400s.