settle for

Meaning

To accept something that is less than perfect or not exactly what you wanted, simply because it is the best or only option available at the time.

Examples

• They wanted to buy a house with a pool, but they had to settle for a large backyard instead.

  They wanted to buy a house with a pool, but they had to settle for a large backyard instead.

• I wanted a fresh salad, but the cafeteria was out, so I had to settle for a pre-made sandwich.

  I wanted a fresh salad, but the cafeteria was out, so I had to settle for a pre-made sandwich.

• Never settle for less than you deserve in a relationship or a career.

  Never settle for less than you deserve in a relationship or a career.

• We couldn't get tickets for the front row, so we settled for seats in the balcony.

  We couldn't get tickets for the front row, so we settled for seats in the balcony.

• Since the hotel was fully booked, we settled for a small motel down the road.

  Since the hotel was fully booked, we settled for a small motel down the road.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I don't want to settle with a boring job.

  ✓ I don't want to settle for a boring job.

  'Settle with' means to resolve a conflict or pay a debt. To accept a less desirable option, you must use 'settle for'.

• ✗ Since they didn't have pasta, I settled to pizza.

  ✓ Since they didn't have pasta, I settled for pizza.

  'Settle for' requires the preposition 'for' when followed by the noun representing the alternative option you accepted.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I wanted a blue shirt, but they only had black, so I had to ___ that.

  💡 To accept a secondary choice because the preferred one is unavailable.

  Show answer

  settle for

• Don't just ___ a job you hate; keep looking for something better.

  💡 Accepting something less than what you actually want.

  Show answer

  settle for