as in relaxing
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1
as in filtering
to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid)
the light rain will settle the dust in the air careful handling will settle the lees in the bottom of the wine bottle
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2
as in populating
to supply with inhabitants
the region was originally settled by farmers
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3
as in deciding
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)
settled the lawsuit in favor of the defendant
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4
as in arranging
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of
settled their wedding plans without any major disagreements
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5
as in perching
to come to rest after descending from the air
birds settling on the branches of the maple tree
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6
as in lodging
to establish or place comfortably or snugly
settled the sleeping baby into her crib
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7
as in composing
to free from distress or disturbance
a hot meal settled the children down
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8
as in containing
to gain emotional or mental control of
settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst
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9
as in paying
to give what is owed for
settle a debt
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10
as in determining
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute
this information should settle the question of who is right
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11
as in shushing
to stop the noise or speech of
settled the class with a firm "quiet!"
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of settling
Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Joan asked, settling in beside them with a glass of white wine.
—Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Starting in 1916, more than 7 million Black Americans left the South, and Chicago became one of the primary destinations of the Great Migration, with hundreds of thousands settling in the city; educators, architects, farmers and more in search of a better life.
—Edie Kasten, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
The youngest sons of former Dodge County, Wisconsin, Sheriff Edwin Nehls, were raised in the Badger State before settling in Texas as adults.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
The church dates back to the 1840s, when German families were settling in the area.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
In addition to the waste from duplication, the DA has noted that the new unit could threaten complex cases involving coordination with the state attorney general and end up prematurely settling cases that are part of larger investigations.
—Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Thanks, as always, for the questions … With team settling in, NOW predict what the QB depth chart will look like in the fall.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2026
Experts estimate settling a suit can cost a business $5,000 to $15,000 plus defense fees.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Individuals who remain in the class and submit valid claims release their rights to sue Cargill or Tyson over the same allegations, but retain any rights against non-settling defendants.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
But nobody seemed bothered Saturday night by the new stadium’s location, or by the work left to be done finishing it, or by the long delay realizing this night, or even by settling for a draw.
—Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Joan asked, settling in beside them with a glass of white wine.
—Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Starting in 1916, more than 7 million Black Americans left the South, and Chicago became one of the primary destinations of the Great Migration, with hundreds of thousands settling in the city; educators, architects, farmers and more in search of a better life.
—Edie Kasten, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
The youngest sons of former Dodge County, Wisconsin, Sheriff Edwin Nehls, were raised in the Badger State before settling in Texas as adults.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
The church dates back to the 1840s, when German families were settling in the area.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
In addition to the waste from duplication, the DA has noted that the new unit could threaten complex cases involving coordination with the state attorney general and end up prematurely settling cases that are part of larger investigations.
—Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Thanks, as always, for the questions … With team settling in, NOW predict what the QB depth chart will look like in the fall.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2026
Experts estimate settling a suit can cost a business $5,000 to $15,000 plus defense fees.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settling
Adjective
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Few things can ruin a relaxing afternoon outdoors faster than an uninvited wasp buzzing around your head.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
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The cocooning effect is helped along by Jacques Garcia’s interiors, layered with taupes and burgundies, velvet and lacquer (and some 6,000 meters of damask silk thrown in the mix), into a hideaway that’s both ornate and relaxing.—
Lindsey Tramuta,
Robb Report,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Huge columns made of light pink and dove gray Tennessee marble shone in the evening light filtering in from the glass roof.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Testing well water regularly and correctly filtering it in a home can cost hundreds of dollars a year.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Geographic isolation and cold temperatures have actually hindered snakes from populating the wilds of many islands; New Zealand, Iceland and Greenland are all also snake-free.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
17 Mar. 2026
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Some of the people populating the world’s feeds are doing valuable work—the journalists and open-source-intelligence gatherers trying to confirm events and produce original reporting, for example.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Global firms consider enforcement regimes when deciding where to locate research, production, and scaling operations.—
Laura Peter,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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Even experienced players can misread a pitch by inches, which makes deciding whether to challenge even more difficult.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Long before Manhattan's iconic street grid took shape, an English widow laid the groundwork for a settlement in Brooklyn, arranging a small village in what would become the United States into one of the first grid patterns.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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But arranging spheres becomes significantly more complex in higher dimensions, which allow for more arrangements and symmetries.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Birds need a complete habitat that includes food, shelter, nesting areas and perching spots.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
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The department recommends staggering bloom times to make sure hummingbirds have a food source for the entire season, as well as providing a source of water and trees or tall shrubs for nesting and perching.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There’s excellent boutique shopping, a diverse range of cuisines to sample, and lodging options suitable for any size or type of travel group.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
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There is also plenty of lodging in the neighboring tourist town of Hot Springs.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For the film’s score, Hardcastle reached out to Nathan Williams, the main singer-songwriter of the indie rock band Wavves, along with his producer Aaron Rubin, and the two worked on composing a soundtrack filled with stirring strings and harsh metallic screeches.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
1 Apr. 2026
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Musical duo Ajay–Atul are composing the score, while cinematographer Santosh Sivan is handling the visuals.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Settling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settling. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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