Dictate example sentences
Related (13): dictation, dictator, dictatorial, command, control, determine, prescribe, decree, mandate, direct, govern, rule, dominate
"Dictate" Example Sentences
Common Phrases
- dictate terms
- dictate to someone
- dictate policy
- dictate the pace
- dictate the agenda
- refuse to dictate
- allow someone to dictate
- dictate a letter
- dictate into a recorder
- circumstances dictate
- budget dictates
- let someone dictate
Examples by Level
A1
- The teacher will dictate the words for the spelling test.
- My mother tried to dictate what I wear to school.
A2
- He started to dictate his letter to his secretary while she typed.
- The rules dictate that everyone must arrive on time.
B1
- I'm tired of letting other people dictate what I should do with my life.
- The weather will dictate whether we can go hiking this weekend.
B2
- She refused to let her family's expectations dictate her career choices, even though it meant disappointing them.
- The market conditions dictate that we'll have to raise prices, though nobody's happy about it.
C1
- What we call progress often requires resisting the urge to dictate solutions to those who must live with the consequences.
- The tension between personal desire and social obligation doesn't have to dictate the entire trajectory of your life.
C2
- There's a particular kind of freedom that comes from refusing to let circumstance dictate your response β not denial, but a quiet assertion of agency.
- He understood, perhaps better than most, that survival required learning when to dictate and when to yield, a balance most people never quite master.
Examples by Scenario
π Everyday Life
- My roommate keeps trying to dictate when I can have people over, and it's driving me crazy.
- I don't let my kids' schedules dictate my entire existence β we find a balance.
πΌ Workplace
- The new manager wants to dictate every aspect of how we do our jobs, which is exhausting.
- I had to dictate my notes from the conference call to my colleague who missed it.
π Business
- Supply chain disruptions will dictate our pricing strategy for the next quarter.
- The board's decision to dictate cost-cutting measures across all departments created tension with the teams.
π Buying / Shopping
- My budget dictates that I can't afford the premium version, so I'm going with the basic model.
- The store's return policy doesn't dictate what I think is fair, but I'm stuck with it anyway.
βοΈ Travel
- Weather conditions will dictate whether our flight gets delayed again.
- I refuse to let a guidebook dictate my entire itinerary β I want to explore on my own.
π Education
- The curriculum doesn't dictate how creative teachers can be within their lessons.
- She had to dictate her essay to the scribe because of her hand injury.
β€οΈ Relationships
- After the breakup, he tried to dictate the custody arrangement, but we ended up splitting everything fairly.
- I love him, but I won't let him dictate who my friends should be.
π° News / Politics
- The government's new regulations will dictate how private companies handle data.
- Critics argue that corporate interests dictate policy more than voters do.
π» Technology
- The algorithm seems to dictate what content I see, and honestly it's kind of creepy.
- Voice assistants can dictate your messages, but the accuracy is still hit or miss.
π Formal Writing
- The methodology section must dictate the structure of the results and discussion that follow.
- International trade agreements dictate tariff rates and regulatory standards across member nations.