dictate
gb/dˈɪktˌeɪt/ us/dˈɪktˌeɪt/
B2
英语
~ 9800
义项
0 个义项
动词
C1
action
1
determine or control an outcome
To control or decide what will happen or what people must do, often because of a situation or rule.
用法模式：
to dictate [what happens/what is done]
常见错误：
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning of "dictate" with simply "suggest" or "influence". "Dictate" is stronger: it means the situation or rule clearly decides what must happen, not just gives an idea.
近义词
determine (Focuses on deciding or shaping something, and is slightly less forceful or authoritative than "dictate".)
反义词
follow (If you follow a situation or rule, you accept it instead of controlling or deciding it.)
搭配
dictate policy
|dictate the terms
|dictate the pace
|dictate the outcome
|dictate behavior
主题
business
|society
|politics
|core_vocabulary
例句
- Market forces often dictate how much companies can charge for their products.
- The tight deadline dictated that we work through the weekend.
- Changing consumer tastes are dictating the direction of the industry.
- Security concerns dictate that all visitors must show identification.
- The weather will dictate whether the game can go ahead.
学习者例句
- The rules dictate what we can and cannot do.
- In this company, money problems dictate many decisions.
- The law dictates that everyone must wear a seat belt.
- Your health should dictate how much you work.
- The schedule dictates when the class will start.
动词
B2
action
2
give orders or lay down rules
To tell someone what they must do in a strong, bossy, or official way.
用法模式：
to dictate [orders/instructions] to [someone]
常见错误：
Learners may use "dictate" when they only mean "say" or "tell". "Dictate" in this sense includes the idea of strong control or authority, often in a way that others do not like.
近义词
command (Emphasizes giving direct orders, often from a position of formal power; "dictate" can also be used for someone who is just very controlling or bossy.)
反义词
negotiate (Instead of telling others what they must do, you discuss and reach a shared decision.)
搭配
dictate terms
|dictate policy
|dictate how something is done
|dictate to [someone]
|try to dictate every detail
主题
work
|society
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
例句
- The CEO tried to dictate every aspect of the project, from the budget to the color of the logo.
- Parents should guide their children rather than dictate their career choices.
- The stronger party in the talks attempted to dictate terms to the smaller countries.
- You cannot dictate to people how they should feel about this issue.
- He has no right to dictate what I do with my own money.
学习者例句
- My boss tries to dictate every step of my work.
- She does not want her parents to dictate her life.
- The teacher cannot dictate what we think.
- The big company wants to dictate the price to small shops.
- He likes to dictate what his friends should wear.
动词
B2
action
3
say words to be written down
To speak words so another person or a computer can write them down.
用法模式：
to dictate [a letter/message/report] (to [someone/something])
常见错误：
Learners sometimes think this meaning also includes the idea of "ordering" someone. Here, "dictate" is neutral and only means speaking so that someone writes; it does not automatically mean being bossy.
近义词
transcribe (by speaking) ("Transcribe" focuses on writing down spoken words; "dictate" focuses on the speaker saying the words for someone else to write.)
反义词
write (by hand) (Writing words directly yourself is the opposite of saying them for someone else to write.)
搭配
dictate a letter
|dictate a memo
|dictate notes
|dictate a report
|dictate into a recorder
主题
work
|education
|technology
|communication
例句
- She dictated the letter to her assistant, who typed it up immediately.
- The doctor quickly dictated his notes into a handheld recorder after each appointment.
- He prefers to dictate emails on his phone rather than type them.
- The manager dictated the report while the intern took shorthand notes.
- Using voice recognition software, you can dictate text directly into your computer.
学习者例句
- The teacher dictated a short story to the class.
- My boss dictated a long email to me.
- The doctor dictated a note into his phone.
- I like to dictate messages instead of typing them.
- She sat and dictated the report while I wrote it.
名词
formal
C1
entity
4
authoritative rule or requirement
A rule or need that seems very strong and that people feel they must follow, for example from law, conscience, or society.
用法模式：
the dictate(s) of [something]
常见错误：
Learners may confuse the noun "dictate" with the verb "dictate" and with the noun "dictator". A "dictate" (noun) is a rule or strong requirement, not the person who gives orders.
近义词
command ("Command" is more direct and personal; "dictate" can be a less personal force, like conscience, fashion, or the market.)
反义词
preference (A personal preference is a free choice, not something that feels like an external requirement.)
搭配
the dictates of conscience
|the dictates of fashion
|the dictates of the market
|the dictates of public opinion
|follow the dictates of [something]
|ignore the dictates of [something]
主题
society
|ethics
|business
|law
|core_vocabulary
例句
- He felt torn between the dictates of conscience and loyalty to his friends.
- Designers no longer blindly follow the dictates of Paris fashion houses.
- The dictates of the market often clash with environmental concerns.
- Politicians cannot simply ignore the dictates of public opinion.
- They acted according to the dictates of their faith.
学习者例句
- She followed the dictates of her conscience and told the truth.
- The company must follow the dictates of the law.
- Young people sometimes reject the dictates of fashion.
- Leaders should listen to the dictates of public opinion.
- He did it against the dictates of his religion.
语法
词典原形
dictate
IPA
GB/dˈɪktˌeɪt/
US/dˈɪktˌeɪt/
音节与重音
dic - tate （2 个音节）
Stress on 1st syllable (dic)
词形变化
Noun
- Base: dictate
- Plural: dictates
Verb
- Base: dictate
- 3rd Person Singular: dictates
- Present Participle: dictating
- Past: dictated
词族
Forms
dictates
noun
dictating
verb
dictated
verb
Core family
dictation
noun
dictator
noun B1
Related words
dictatorship
noun B2
dictatorial
adjective
Advanced or less common
dictatorially
adverb
相关表达
as circumstances dictate
1/ˈæz sˈɚkəmstˌænsɪz dˈɪktˌeɪt/
fixed phrase
formal
depending on what the situation requires
Used to say that you will do something in the way that seems necessary when you see how the situation is.
例句
- We will meet weekly, or more often as circumstances dictate.
- The plan may be adjusted as circumstances dictate during the year.
- Resources will be moved between departments as circumstances dictate.
as the situation dictates
1/ˈæz ðə sˌɪt͡ʃuˈeɪʃən dˈɪktˌeɪts/
fixed phrase
formal
according to what the situation requires
Used to say that you will act in the way that is necessary when you know exactly what the situation is.
例句
- We will increase or reduce staff as the situation dictates.
- Security measures may be tightened as the situation dictates.
- The coach said he would change tactics as the situation dictates during the game.
dictate terms
1/dˈɪktˌeɪt tˈɚmz/
fixed phrase
set the conditions in a negotiation
To decide and state the conditions of an agreement, often because you are in a stronger position than the other side.
例句
- With such a strong market position, the company can afford to dictate terms to its suppliers.
- The union is no longer in a position to dictate terms to management.
- They refused to let a foreign power dictate terms of the peace agreement.
dictate to someone
1/dˈɪktˌeɪt tə sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
tell someone what to do bossily
To try to control someone by telling them exactly what they must do, often in a way they do not like.
例句
- I am not going to let you dictate to me about how I should live my life.
- He is always trying to dictate to his colleagues, and they are getting tired of it.
- Parents should guide their children rather than dictate to them.