American English

How to pronounce decisive

adjectiveB2
dihSAIsihv

/dɪˈsaɪ.sɪv/

3 syllables · Stress the second syllable.

Able to make choices quickly and firmly.

Practice out loud

Meanings & examples

adjective

Able to make choices quickly and firmly.

She was decisive about the new design.

You must be decisive when choosing a team.

Good to know

For a person, decisive usually means “decided” or “firm,” not “decisive” in the sense of changing a result.

Common phrases & grammar

a decisive leader · a decisive person · decisive action

be decisive about + noun

be decisive when + -ing

adjective

Having a strong and final effect on a result.

Her goal was decisive in the final game.

The team won a decisive victory.

Common phrases & grammar

a decisive factor · a decisive victory · a decisive moment · decisive evidence

be decisive in + noun

a decisive + noun

Related words & forms