DECISION

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does decision mean? 

• DECISION (noun)
  The noun DECISION has 5 senses:

1. the act of making up your mind about something

2. a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration

3. (boxing) a victory won on points when no knockout has occurred

4. the outcome of a game or contest

5. the trait of resoluteness as evidenced by firmness of character or purpose

  Familiarity information: DECISION used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DECISION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of making up your mind about something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

conclusion; decision; determination

Context example:

he drew his conclusions quickly

Hypernyms ("decision" is a kind of...):

choice; option; pick; selection (the act of choosing or selecting)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decision"):

appointment; assignment; designation; naming (the act of putting a person into a non-elective position)

call ((sports) the decision made by an umpire or referee)

move (the act of deciding to do something)

casting lots; drawing lots; sortition (making a chance decision by using lots (straws or pebbles etc.) that are thrown or drawn)

resolution (a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner)

Derivation:

decide (reach, make, or come to a decision about something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

conclusion; decision; determination

Context example:

satisfied with the panel's determination

Hypernyms ("decision" is a kind of...):

judgement; judgment; mind (an opinion formed by judging something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decision"):

predetermination (a mental determination or resolve in advance; an antecedent intention to do something)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(boxing) a victory won on points when no knockout has occurred

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

had little trouble in taking a unanimous decision over his opponent

Hypernyms ("decision" is a kind of...):

final result; outcome; result; resultant; termination (something that results)

Domain category:

boxing; fisticuffs; pugilism (fighting with the fists)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decision"):

split decision (a boxing decision in which the judges are not unanimous)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The outcome of a game or contest

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

the team dropped three decisions in a row

Hypernyms ("decision" is a kind of...):

final result; outcome; result; resultant; termination (something that results)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The trait of resoluteness as evidenced by firmness of character or purpose

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

decision; decisiveness

Context example:

a man of unusual decisiveness

Hypernyms ("decision" is a kind of...):

firmness; firmness of purpose; resoluteness; resolution; resolve (the trait of being resolute)

Antonym:

indecision (the trait of irresolution; a lack of firmness of character or purpose)

 Context examples 

In pursuance of this decision, when the two brothers, talking university shop, had used "trig" several times, Martin Eden demanded:-

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

A question about whether an individual is or was able to make decisions and take responsibility.

(Able to Make Decisions and Take Responsibility, NCI Thesaurus)

A decision that an observation or result is outside the parameters considered normal.

(Abnormal Finding, NCI Thesaurus)

“Certainly not,” cried Holmes, with decision.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then, with the gesture of a man who has taken his decision, he sprang to his feet and passed into his bedroom.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Researchers believe that simulation neurons are important building blocks for social cognition — they allow animals to reconstruct their partners’ mental decision processes.

(‘Mindreading’ neurons simulate decisions of social partners, University of Cambridge)

His beard was white with his frozen breath when the perplexed and frowning brows relaxed and decision came into his face.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

The decision to end a pregnancy is very personal.

(Abortion, NIH)

Because surgery can be risky, you and your doctor need to make a decision carefully.

(Arteriovenous Malformations, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

“If there is anything in the world,” said my aunt, with great decision and force of manner, “that Mr. Dick is not, it's that.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)