settles

IPA/ˈset.əl/
KK[sˈɛtəlz]IPA/ˈset̬.əl/

settles — 動詞

  • 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

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

解決;和解

結束爭端,達成協議

to stop a quarrel or legal case by having everyone involved agree on a solution

例句

Esme and her brother finally settled their argument about who would use the car first.

Esme 和她的弟弟終於解決了關於誰先用車這件事的爭吵。

settle + noun phrase (argument)

After months of meetings, the two companies settled their dispute out of court.

經過數月的會議,兩間公司在庭外和解了他們的糾紛。

settle + dispute out of court

同義詞
  • resolve

    more formal, often used for conflicts or problems

  • sort out

    informal, common in everyday conversation

  • come to terms

    emphasises reaching a mutual agreement

反義詞
  • disagree

    to have a different opinion; the opposite of reaching agreement

  • dispute

    to argue about something; opposite of settling

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

We settled the problem with the computer.
We solved the computer problem.
💡Use 'solve' or 'fix' for technical problems or puzzles; 'settle' is for disagreements between people or groups.

2. to make the final arrangements for practical or financial matters, often by payi

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

安排;結清

處理或結算事務

to make the final arrangements for practical or financial matters, often by paying or organising what is needed

例句

Yael settled all the travel arrangements before the group trip began.

Yael 在團體旅行出發前安排好了所有的交通事宜。

settle + noun phrase (arrangements)

Let me settle the bill before we leave the restaurant, please.

離開餐廳前請讓我先把帳結清。

settle the bill = pay the bill

同義詞
  • finalise

    more formal, used in business English

  • take care of

    informal, covers organising and paying

  • sort out

    informal British English, common in conversation

反義詞

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

I need to settle the problem with my phone bill.
I need to settle my phone bill.
💡With bills and accounts, 'settle' means pay or finalise, not solve a problem.

3. to move your body into a comfortable or relaxed position, especially when sittin

3.動詞不及物B1
釋義

安頓;坐好

調整到舒適姿勢

to move your body into a comfortable or relaxed position, especially when sitting or lying down

例句

The old cat settled on the warm rug in front of the fireplace.

老貓在壁爐前溫暖的地毯上安頓了下來。

settle + on + surface

Ramón settled into the armchair with a cup of tea and a newspaper.

Ramón 端著一杯茶和一份報紙坐進扶手椅裡。

settle + into + furniture

同義詞
  • get comfortable

    more general, describes the process

  • snuggle

    more informal and affectionate, often for children or pets

  • nestle

    implies pressing gently into something soft

反義詞
  • get up

    to leave a seated or lying position

  • stand

    opposite of sitting comfortably

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

She settled on the chair.' (implies the surface is 'on' but sounds odd).
She settled into the chair.
💡Use 'into' for sinking comfortably into a seat; use 'on' for flat surfaces like a rug or bench.

4. in sports or games, to begin playing in a calm and focused way after an initial

4.動詞不及物B1
釋義

進入狀態

比賽中漸入佳境

in sports or games, to begin playing in a calm and focused way after an initial period of adjustment

例句

The team took a few minutes to settle into the game after the opening whistle.

球隊在開球後花了幾分鐘才進入比賽狀態。

settle + into + the game

The tennis player settled into a steady rhythm after losing the first set.

那位網球選手在輸掉第一盤之後逐漸找到了穩定的節奏。

settle + into + a rhythm

同義詞

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

The team settled the game after five minutes.
The team settled into the game after five minutes.
💡This sense is intransitive and requires 'into' before the activity.

5. to start living permanently in a place, especially after moving around or travel

5.動詞不及物B1
釋義

定居

永久居住在某地

to start living permanently in a place, especially after moving around or travelling

例句

After years of travelling, Obi finally settled in a small coastal village.

Obi 旅行多年後,最後在一個小漁村定居下來。

settle + in + place

Mei and her partner settled in Canada after leaving their home country.

Mei 和伴侶離開家鄉後在加拿大定居。

同義詞
反義詞
  • move

    to change location

  • migrate

    to move from one place to another

  • roam

    to travel without a fixed home

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

I settled in London since 2019.
I settled in London in 2019.
💡'Settle' describes a completed action; use a specific past time or 'have settled' for an ongoing situation.

6. of a group of people, to arrive in a new region and begin living there, farming

6.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

殖民;開墾

移入新地並開墾居住

of a group of people, to arrive in a new region and begin living there, farming the land, and building communities

例句

The Dutch were among the first Europeans to settle the island after the year sixteen hundred.

荷蘭人是在一六○○年之後最早殖民這座島嶼的歐洲人之一。

settle + region (transitive, historical)

The valley was gradually settled by farming families who built homes along the river.

這片山谷逐漸由沿河蓋房的農耕家庭開墾定居。

passive: was settled by [group]

同義詞
  • colonise

    more specific; often implies political control by a distant power

  • populate

    describes people moving into and living in an area

反義詞
  • abandon

    to leave a place and not return

  • leave

    to go away from a place

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

My grandparents settled the village in 1960.
My grandparents settled in the village in 1960.
💡For modern individual relocation, use 'settle in'. The transitive sense without 'in' is reserved for historical colonisation contexts.

7. to fall slowly through a liquid or the air until reaching the bottom (used for s

7.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

沉澱;下沉

固體微粒落到底部停下

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).

例句

Hannah poured the coffee and waited for the grounds to settle at the bottom.

Hannah 倒好咖啡,等待咖啡渣沉澱到杯底。

collocation: coffee grounds / sediment settles

After the earthquake, fine dust settled on every book and shelf in the library.

地震過後,細微的灰塵落在圖書館裡每一本書和架子上。

settle + on + surface for dust / particles

同義詞
  • sink

    focuses on the downward movement rather than coming to rest

  • descend

    more general; implies controlled or gradual downward movement

  • subside

    used for liquids or the ground after disturbance; suggests returning to a normal level

反義詞
  • rise

    particles moving upward instead of downward

  • float

    remaining at the surface rather than sinking

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

8.動詞及物B2
釋義

清償;結清

支付所欠的款項

to pay an outstanding financial obligation, such as a bill, loan, or account, in full so that nothing remains owed.

例句

Iker settled his electricity bill over the phone before the disconnection date.

Iker 在停電通知寄達前打電話繳清了電費帳單。

collocation: settle a bill

The couple finally settled the last of their student loans five years after graduation.

這對夫婦畢業五年後終於還清了最後一筆就學貸款。

collocation: settle a loan / debt

同義詞
  • pay

    more general; does not imply closing the account

  • clear

    similar sense of finality; 'clear a debt'

  • square

    informal; implies both parties are even after the payment

反義詞
  • 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

I settled fifty dollars for the meal.
I settled the bill for fifty dollars.
💡'settle' needs an object like 'bill' or 'account', not an amount of money.

9. to become quiet and calm after being noisy, active, or upset; or to make a perso

9.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

靜下;安撫

從激動吵鬧中安靜下來

to become quiet and calm after being noisy, active, or upset; or to make a person or animal become quiet and calm.

例句

After the fire alarm stopped, the children slowly settled and returned to their desks.

火災警報停止後,孩子們慢慢安靜下來,回到自己的座位上。

intransitive: group of people settle after excitement

Nora took three deep breaths to settle her racing heart before the exam began.

Nora 做了三次深呼吸,在考試開始前安撫自己急促的心跳。

transitive: settle + heart / nerves

同義詞
  • calm down

    more common and slightly more informal

  • quieten down

    primarily British; often used for children or crowds

  • soothe

    transitive only; gentler, implies comforting

反義詞
  • agitate

    to disturb or excite, making someone unsettled

  • excite

    causes the opposite of settling down

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

10.動詞不及物B2
釋義

穩定;固定

經變化後停留在某水平或狀態

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.

例句

After weeks of change, the exchange rate settled at one dollar and thirty-five cents.

經過幾週的變化之後,匯率穩定在一美元兌一百三十五美分。

settle + at + value for prices / rates

The temperature in the desert settled at around forty degrees by mid-afternoon.

沙漠的氣溫在下午時穩定在大約四十度。

settle + at + temperature

同義詞
  • stabilise

    more formal; suggests active management to reach a steady state

  • level off

    suggests a gradual flattening of a rising or falling trend

  • plateau

    implies staying at a high level after a period of growth

反義詞
  • 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 — 名詞