settles
settles — verb
- settlespresent simple I / you / we / they
- settleses3rd person singular
- settlesing-ing form
- settlesedpast simple
1. to stop a quarrel or legal case by having everyone involved agree on a solution
to stop a quarrel or legal case by having everyone involved agree on a solution
Esme and her brother finally settled their argument about who would use the car first.
settle + noun phrase (argument)
After months of meetings, the two companies settled their dispute out of court.
settle + dispute out of court
Joon and his neighbour settled their disagreement by agreeing to share the garden.
The lawyers helped both sides settle the case before it went to trial.
Noor settled the matter by offering to pay for the damage to the fence.
- resolve
more formal, often used for conflicts or problems
- sort out
informal, common in everyday conversation
- come to terms
emphasises reaching a mutual agreement
文法句型
settle + noun phrase (dispute/argument/matter)
settle + with + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common with nouns such as dispute, argument, case, matter, and lawsuit. When used intransitively, the subject is the disagreeing parties and no object follows: 'They settled after three hours of discussion.'
常見錯誤
2. to make the final arrangements for practical or financial matters, often by payi
to make the final arrangements for practical or financial matters, often by paying or organising what is needed
Yael settled all the travel arrangements before the group trip began.
settle + noun phrase (arrangements)
Let me settle the bill before we leave the restaurant, please.
settle the bill = pay the bill
The estate agent helped Dario settle the paperwork for the house.
We need to settle the details of the contract by Friday afternoon.
Pedro settled his father's financial affairs after the funeral.
- finalise
more formal, used in business English
- take care of
informal, covers organising and paying
- sort out
informal British English, common in conversation
- leave open
to not finalise or resolve
文法句型
settle + noun phrase (bill/affairs/details)
用法筆記
Frequently used in business and everyday contexts with bill, account, affairs, and details. The sense of paying is strongest with 'settle the bill' or 'settle an account'.
常見錯誤
3. to move your body into a comfortable or relaxed position, especially when sittin
to move your body into a comfortable or relaxed position, especially when sitting or lying down
The old cat settled on the warm rug in front of the fireplace.
settle + on + surface
Ramón settled into the armchair with a cup of tea and a newspaper.
settle + into + furniture
Shanti settled her baby into the pushchair before going for a walk.
Daniel settled back against the sofa cushions and closed his eyes.
Eleni settled herself on the garden bench to enjoy the afternoon sun.
- get comfortable
more general, describes the process
- snuggle
more informal and affectionate, often for children or pets
- nestle
implies pressing gently into something soft
文法句型
settle + into + noun phrase
settle + back/down
settle + reflexive pronoun + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Often followed by 'into' (for seats), 'on' (for surfaces), 'back' (for leaning back), or 'down'. The object can be yourself or someone else, as in 'settle the baby in the cot'.
常見錯誤
4. in sports or games, to begin playing in a calm and focused way after an initial
in sports or games, to begin playing in a calm and focused way after an initial period of adjustment
The team took a few minutes to settle into the game after the opening whistle.
settle + into + the game
The tennis player settled into a steady rhythm after losing the first set.
settle + into + a rhythm
Once the Lyon players settled, they scored three goals in the second half against Porto.
After a shaky opening, the young chess player settled and began to play with real confidence.
After a chaotic first quarter, the Osaka Eagles settled and began passing the ball more effectively.
- find your rhythm
describes the same idea of reaching a comfortable performance level
- get into the flow
informal, used in sports and creative work
文法句型
settle + into + noun phrase (game/match/rhythm)
用法筆記
Used mainly in sports contexts, often followed by 'into the game/match' or 'into a rhythm'. The subject is a player or team; the meaning is about becoming comfortable enough to perform well.
常見錯誤
5. to start living permanently in a place, especially after moving around or travel
to start living permanently in a place, especially after moving around or travelling
After years of travelling, Obi finally settled in a small coastal village.
settle + in + place
Mei and her partner settled in Canada after leaving their home country.
Many nurses move to big cities for training but later settle in smaller towns.
The young family settled in the countryside after living in the city for a decade.
Eleni found it hard to settle in a new country at first, but now she loves it.
- put down roots
informal, implies building a life and making connections
- establish yourself
more formal, covers career and social life
- take up residence
formal, used in official contexts
文法句型
settle + prepositional phrase (in/here/abroad)
用法筆記
Often used with 'in' followed by a location. The related phrasal verb 'settle down' adds the idea of starting a family or a stable life, not just a fixed residence.
常見錯誤
6. of a group of people, to arrive in a new region and begin living there, farming
of a group of people, to arrive in a new region and begin living there, farming the land, and building communities
The Dutch were among the first Europeans to settle the island after the year sixteen hundred.
settle + region (transitive, historical)
The valley was gradually settled by farming families who built homes along the river.
passive: was settled by [group]
Pioneers from the east settled the western plains during the late nineteenth century.
European settlers from many countries settled the coastal regions of South America over several centuries.
The government offered free land to anyone willing to go and settle the northern territory.
文法句型
settle + noun phrase (region/land/territory)
settle + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Transitive use ('settle a region') is historical or geographical. Modern individual moves use 'settle in' (sense 5). The subject is typically a group or nation, not a single person.
常見錯誤
7. to fall slowly through a liquid or the air until reaching the bottom (used for s
to fall slowly through a liquid or the air until reaching the bottom (used for solid particles, dust, or snow); or to sink gradually over time (used for buildings or the ground).
Hannah poured the coffee and waited for the grounds to settle at the bottom.
collocation: coffee grounds / sediment settles
After the earthquake, fine dust settled on every book and shelf in the library.
settle + on + surface for dust / particles
Builders left the wet concrete to settle overnight before laying the floor tiles.
The silt from the river slowly settled, leaving clear water above the muddy bed.
Over many years, the old stone farmhouse settled a few inches into the damp ground.
文法句型
settle + (in/on/at) + noun phrase
settle something + (in/on)
用法筆記
Frequently used for particles (sediment, dust, grounds) falling through a liquid or air and coming to rest. Also common for buildings or ground sinking gradually.
8. to pay an outstanding financial obligation, such as a bill, loan, or account, in
to pay an outstanding financial obligation, such as a bill, loan, or account, in full so that nothing remains owed.
Iker settled his electricity bill over the phone before the disconnection date.
collocation: settle a bill
The couple finally settled the last of their student loans five years after graduation.
collocation: settle a loan / debt
Yasmin settled her credit card balance in full to avoid paying any interest.
The company settled the invoice with the supplier on the same day it was received.
- owe
the state of still having an unsettled debt
文法句型
settle + noun phrase (bill / debt / account / invoice)
用法筆記
Object is typically a bill, debt, account, invoice, loan, or balance. More formal than 'pay'; strongly implies finality — the account is closed once settled.
常見錯誤
9. to become quiet and calm after being noisy, active, or upset; or to make a perso
to become quiet and calm after being noisy, active, or upset; or to make a person or animal become quiet and calm.
After the fire alarm stopped, the children slowly settled and returned to their desks.
intransitive: group of people settle after excitement
Nora took three deep breaths to settle her racing heart before the exam began.
transitive: settle + heart / nerves
The puppy finally settled in its basket after running around the garden for an hour.
Warm milk helped the baby settle and fall asleep in his mother's arms.
The classroom settled as soon as the teacher raised her hand and waited for silence.
- calm down
more common and slightly more informal
- quieten down
primarily British; often used for children or crowds
- soothe
transitive only; gentler, implies comforting
文法句型
settle (down)
settle + noun (someone / nerves / heart)
用法筆記
'Settle down' is especially common for people or animals gradually becoming calm. Often used in contexts of children, crowds, or pets after periods of energy or noise.
10. to reach and stay at a particular level, value, or state after a period of chang
to reach and stay at a particular level, value, or state after a period of change or movement, often used for prices, temperatures, conversations, or rhythms.
After weeks of change, the exchange rate settled at one dollar and thirty-five cents.
settle + at + value for prices / rates
The temperature in the desert settled at around forty degrees by mid-afternoon.
settle + at + temperature
During dinner, their conversation settled on the best way to renovate the kitchen.
Selim's breathing settled into a slow, peaceful rhythm as the guided meditation ended.
- fluctuate
the opposite of reaching and staying at a steady level
文法句型
settle + at + value / price / temperature
settle + into + state / condition
settle + on + topic
用法筆記
Common with measurable values: prices, exchange rates, temperatures, heart rates. Also used for abstract movement — conversations 'settle on' a topic or people 'settle into' a routine.
settles — noun
1. a type of wooden seat that has armrests, a tall back, and a hollow base that dou
a type of wooden seat that has armrests, a tall back, and a hollow base that doubles as a storage chest for keeping household things such as blankets or firewood
The old wooden settle in the farmhouse kitchen had blankets stored inside its base.
collocation: wooden settle / stored inside its base
Valentina found a hand-carved settle at the antique market with space for firewood underneath.
noun describing antique furniture
Kemi lifted the settle's seat to get a board game from the storage compartment.
The innkeeper put soft cushions on the settle so guests could sit by the fire.
A long settle stood by the cottage wall, its back carved with flowers and birds.
用法筆記
Mostly found in descriptions of antique or traditional furniture, especially in farmhouses or old inns. The settle is distinct from a regular bench because of its high back and built-in storage compartment under the seat.