settle
SET-ul
/ˈsɛtl/
To go and live permanently in a new place, or to make a place your permanent home.
Suggests a process of becoming comfortable and established after a move.
The story behind the word. From the Old English 'setlan', meaning 'to seat' or 'to place'. It is related to the word 'sit'. To settle is literally to 'take a seat' in a new land.
Word relationships
- establish: Establish is more formal and can refer to businesses or systems, while settle is more personal and domestic.
- wander: To move in a leisurely or aimless way.
- depart: To leave a place.
Commonly confused with
- colonize: Colonize implies taking control of an area, often by force; settle is a more neutral term for making a home.
Word family
- settlement (noun): A place, typically one which has previously been uninhabited, where people establish a community.
- settler (noun): A person who settles in an area, typically one with no previous inhabitants.
Collocations
- settle down
- settle in
- settle a dispute
Idioms & expressions
- settle a score
Example sentences
- "The pioneers traveled west to settle in the fertile valleys of Oregon." A historical narrative.
- "It took several months for the family to settle into their new life in the city." A personal update.
Memory hook
When you 'settle', you 'set' your life in a new place. Set your roots.
When not to use
Do not use when the move is temporary or transient.
Fun facts
- The word 'settle' can also mean to resolve a debt or a fight, reflecting the idea of bringing things to a stable conclusion.
Related words
Explore more words
emigrate, resettlement, immigrant, settlement, migration, sedentary
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