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Glite Dictionary
to settle for

to settle for

143 3.6
Accept less than you wanted or hoped for
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈsɛtəl fɔr/
translation icon : conformarse con
  • After weeks of searching for the ideal apartment, they decided to settle for a smaller one in a good neighborhood.
  • settle for less
  • willing to settle for
  • settle for a compromise

Most people will settle for OK, all right.

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Examples

  • I think that's the reason that I can never settle for anything less than amazing.

    Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

  • Like I would hate to settle for the wrong person again.

  • Most people will settle for OK, all right.

    Ed Mylett

  • So many people will always settle for the easier thing, right?

    Bedros Keuilian

  • Instead we settle for second best here.

    Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

  • Will they have to settle for a less expensive house and less fancy cars?

    Academic text (2008)

  • Here, the association and the business community had to settle for a compromise with Congress.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Just don't settle for anything other than the real deal.

    The Rich Dad Channel

  • So claim your right to have a first class relationship and don't settle for anything less.

  • Ask big, audacious questions, don't settle for lazy answers.

Synonyms

to accept
vsto settle for
∞ 3.5

To tolerate an unpleasant situation without complaining

means choosing less than hoped, not merely enduring a bad situation
to compromise
vsto settle for
215 3.7

To settle a disagreement by each side giving up something

involves choosing less as a personal choice rather than mutual bargaining
to settle
vsto settle for
166 3.6

To accept less than you wanted

is specifically about choosing less than hoped rather than broad approval
to acquiesce
vsto settle for
  • Formal
20 8.4

To accept something you do not want without complaining

is about choosing less than hoped, not mainly about reluctance
to settle for less
vsto settle for
9 4.5

To accept something worse than what you want or deserve

is the same idea phrased without saying the lower quality explicitly

Antonyms

to demand
943 2.7

To ask for something in a strong, urgent way

to refuse
716 1.7

To say no to a request or offer

How Accepting

to accept
793 1.0
to settle for
143 3.6
compromise
363 2.5
to wait out
42 4.3
to reject
839 1.9

Surface Forms

settle for infinitive
settled for past
settled for past participle
settling for present participle
settles for third person singular

Morphology

settle + for

The meaning 'to accept or agree to something less than what was wanted' is directly derivable from combining 'settle' (to accept/resolve) with the preposition 'for' (indicating acceptance/support). This compositional pattern is common and parallels constructions in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Settle for creates a clear picture: imagine you want the best prize but only a smaller one is left, so you settle and take the smaller prize for yourself. So, settle for means 'to accept something less than you hoped for'.