de ‧ ci ‧ sion S1 W1 /dɪˈsɪʒ ə n/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ decision , ↑ indecision ; adverb : ↑ decidedly , ↑ decisively ≠ ↑ indecisively ; adjective : ↑ decided ≠ ↑ undecided , ↑ decisive ≠ ↑ indecisive ; verb : ↑ decide ]
1 . [countable] a choice or judgment that you make after a period of discussion or thought:
Do you ever wonder if you made the right decision?
decision to do something
She refused to discuss her decision to quit the group.
decision about/on
We finally came to a firm decision on the matter.
decision as to which/whether/who etc
Viewers make the final decision as to who should be eliminated from the competition.
The judges’ decision is final (=it will not be changed) .
2 . [uncountable] the quality someone has that makes them able to make choices or judgments quickly and confidently OPP indecision :
the ability to act with speed and decision
3 . [uncountable] the act of deciding something:
The Court has the ultimate power of decision.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ make a decision
I want to think about it a bit longer before I make a decision.
▪ take a decision British English (=make an important or formal decision)
I fully accept the decision taken by the committee.
▪ reach/come to/arrive at a decision (=make a decision after a lot of thought)
We hope they will reach their decision as soon as possible.
▪ regret a decision (=wish you had not made a particular decision)
I was already regretting my decision to go on holiday with him.
▪ reconsider a decision (=think about changing a decision you have made)
He said he wasn't prepared to reconsider his decision.
▪ reverse a decision (=change a decision)
They want him to reverse his decision to quit.
▪ overrule/overturn a decision (=officially change a decision by another person or group)
A director of the company had overruled that decision.
▪ postpone a decision (=not make a decision until later)
The government has postponed its decision about when to hold the election.
■ adjectives
▪ an important decision
My father made all the important decisions.
▪ a big decision (=an important decision)
Marriage is a big decision.
▪ a major decision (=very important)
The government now has some major decisions to make.
▪ a difficult/hard/tough decision
In the end I took the difficult decision to retire early.
▪ a good decision
It was a good decision to change the name of the product.
▪ a bad decision
I think he made a bad decision.
▪ the right decision
She chose to study Engineering and it was definitely the right decision.
▪ the wrong decision
I thought I'd made the wrong decision marrying Jeff.
▪ a conscious/deliberate decision (=one that you have thought about clearly)
Belinda had made a conscious decision to have a baby.
▪ a clear/firm decision (=a definite one)
It's now time to come to a clear decision on this.
▪ a final decision (=one that will not be changed)
The council will make a final decision in four months.
▪ a snap decision (=one that you make extremely quickly)
Police officers often have to make snap decisions on how to act.
▪ a controversial decision (=that people disagree about)
The history of the law is full of controversial decisions.
▪ a hasty decision (=one that you make without enough thought)
Don't let yourself be forced into making hasty decisions.
▪ a joint decision (=one that two people make together)
Jo and I made a joint decision that we should separate.
▪ a collective decision (=one that a number of people make together)
Society should take collective decisions about individual rights and responsibilities.