settle
gb/sˈɛtəl/ us/sˈɛtəl/
A2
English
~ 1400
rendez, megállapodik, letelepedik, megnyugszik, lecsendesedik, megnyugtat, kiegyenlít, kifizet, leülepszik, lerakódik
VERB
B1
1
rendez
B1
megállapodik
B1
Usage pattern:
to settle [a dispute/problem]
They finally settled their differences after years of arguing.
Évekig tartó veszekedés után végül rendezték a nézeteltéréseiket.
The two companies settled the lawsuit out of court.
A két cég peren kívüli egyezséggel rendezte a pert.
We need to settle this issue before moving forward.
She settled the dispute by offering a fair compromise.
Learner examples
They settled the fight.
Rendezték a vitát.
The two men settled the problem.
A két férfi rendezte a problémát.
We settled the question in class.
They settled the case quickly.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'settle' with 'solve'; 'settle' often implies agreement between people, while 'solve' is for problems or puzzles without negotiation.
Meaning
Resolve a conflict or problem
Collocations
settle a dispute
|settle a lawsuit
|settle differences
|settle a claim
Synonyms
resolve (More formal and general; can apply to both problems and equations.)
Antonyms
provoke (To cause or worsen a disagreement instead of ending it.)
Themes
daily life
|business
|law
|relationships
Definition
To end a fight or problem by agreeing on something.
To end an argument, disagreement, or problem by reaching an agreement or decision.
VERB
A2
2
letelepedik
B2
Usage pattern:
to settle in/at [a place]
They settled in Canada after the war.
A háború után Kanadában telepedtek le.
The family settled in a small village by the sea.
A család egy tengerparti kis faluban telepedett le.
He finally settled in New York after years of moving around.
Many immigrants settled in urban areas.
Learner examples
We settled in Paris.
Párizsban telepedtünk le.
My uncle settled in the city.
A nagybátyám a városban telepedett le.
They settled near the river.
She settled in London last year.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'settle' with 'stay'; 'settle' implies long-term residence, not a short visit.
Meaning
Make a permanent home
Collocations
settle in a new city
|settle abroad
|settle permanently
Synonyms
relocate (Focuses on the act of moving; does not always imply permanence like 'settle'.)
Antonyms
leave (To go away from a place instead of staying there.)
Themes
daily life
|travel
|housing
Definition
To start living in a place for a long time.
To start living in a place and make it your permanent home.
VERB
A2
3
Usage pattern:
to settle [someone/something] down
She tried to settle the crying baby.
Megpróbálta megnyugtatni a síró babát.
It took a while for the class to settle after recess.
Beletelt egy kis időbe, mire az osztály lecsendesedett a szünet után.
He settled his nerves before speaking.
The horse settled once the noise stopped.
Learner examples
The teacher settled the children.
A tanár lecsendesítette a gyerekeket.
He settled after he sat down.
Megnyugodott, miután leült.
She settled the baby.
The dog settled when I petted it.
Common mistake:
Learners may forget that 'settle down' can mean calming oneself, not just starting to live somewhere.
Meaning
Become or make calm and still
Collocations
settle down after excitement
|settle the baby
|settle nerves
Synonyms
soothe (Emphasizes comfort and emotional relief.)
Antonyms
agitate (To disturb or excite instead of calming.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make someone or yourself quiet and calm.
To make someone or something quiet and calm, or to become quiet and calm.
VERB
A2
4
Usage pattern:
to settle [a bill/debt/account]
We settled the bill before leaving the restaurant.
Mielőtt elmentünk az étteremből, rendeztük a számlát.
He settled his debts after getting his salary.
Miután megkapta a fizetését, rendezte a tartozásait.
The company settled all outstanding accounts.
Please settle your account within 30 days.
Learner examples
I will settle the bill now.
Most kifizetem a számlát.
She settled her debt yesterday.
Tegnap rendezte a tartozását.
They settled the account quickly.
He settled his bill at the hotel.
Meaning
Pay what is owed
Collocations
settle a bill
|settle an account
|settle debts
Synonyms
pay off (Informal; often used for completely paying a debt.)
Antonyms
owe (To have an unpaid debt instead of paying it.)
Themes
business
|daily life
|finance
Definition
To pay money you owe for something.
To pay money that you owe, especially a bill, debt, or account.
VERB
B1
5
leülepszik
B2
lerakódik
B2
Dust settled on the furniture overnight.
Éjszaka por rakódott le a bútorokra.
The sediment settled at the bottom of the jar.
Az üledék leülepedett az üveg aljára.
Her dress settled gently around her feet.
The house had settled over time, causing cracks in the walls.
Learner examples
Dust settles on the table.
Por rakódik le az asztalra.
The sand settles in water.
A homok leülepszik a vízben.
The leaves settle on the ground.
The dirt settles at the bottom.
Meaning
Sink or move downward slowly
Collocations
dust settles on surfaces
|mud settles at the bottom
Synonyms
sink (Implies moving down into liquid or soft material; 'settle' can be broader.)
Antonyms
rise (To move upward instead of downward.)
Themes
nature
|daily life
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To slowly go down and stay there.
To gradually move down to a lower level or position, often becoming still there.
Grammar
Dictionary form
settle
IPA
GB/sˈɛtəl/
US/sˈɛtəl/
Syllables & stress
settle (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (settle)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: settle
- 3rd Person Singular: settles
- Present Participle: settling
- Past: settled
Word family
Forms
settles
verb
settling
verb
settled
verb
Core family
settlement
noun B1
settler
noun B1
Related words
resettle
verb B2
resettlement
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
unsettle
verb B2
Expressions
let the dust settle
1/lˈɛt ðə dˈʌst sˈɛtəl/
idiom
Wait until things calm down
To wait until a situation becomes calmer before making decisions or taking action.
Examples
- Let's let the dust settle before discussing this again.
- They waited for the dust to settle after the announcement before reacting.
settle down
1/sˈɛtəl dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
Become calm or begin steady life
To become quiet and calm, or to start living in one place for a long time.
Examples
- After years of travel, he decided to settle down in a small town.
- The teacher asked the students to settle down before starting the lesson.
settle for
1/sˈɛtəl fɚ/
phrasal verb
Accept less than you want
To accept something that is not exactly what you wanted because it is good enough.
Examples
- She couldn't find her favorite dress, so she settled for another one.
- I won't settle for anything less than the best.
settle in
1/sˈɛtəl ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
Get used to new surroundings
To become comfortable in a new home, job, or situation.
Examples
- It took him a few weeks to settle in at his new job.
- Once we settled in, we started exploring the neighborhood.
settle up
1/sˈɛtəl ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Pay shared costs or debts
To pay someone the money you owe them, especially after sharing costs.
Examples
- Let's settle up before we leave the restaurant.
- I need to settle up with you for last night's tickets.