settle for

accept something less than what you really wanted

B2

What does "settle for sth" mean?

To settle for something means to accept it even though it is less than what you originally wanted or hoped for. There is always an implied sense of disappointment or compromise — you had something better in mind, but it was not available or you could not get it. For example, if you applied for a senior role but accepted a junior one instead, you settled for the junior position. The phrase is especially common in motivational language, where it often appears in negative constructions encouraging people not to lower their expectations. In sports, 'settle for a draw' is a common, slightly more neutral expression meaning a team accepted a tied result when they were hoping to win.

Examples

How to use it

settle for + noun/noun phrase

The most common pattern — the object (what is accepted) always follows 'for' directly.

After weeks of searching, he settled for a flat that was smaller than he wanted.

refuse to / won't settle for + noun

Very frequently used in negative constructions, especially in advice or motivational contexts, to express determination not to accept something inferior.

She refused to settle for a salary below what she knew she was worth.

have to settle for + noun

Used when someone accepts a lesser option because they have no real choice, emphasising the lack of alternatives.

The restaurant was fully booked, so we had to settle for a table near the kitchen.

settle for + pronoun

Pronouns always follow 'for' — they are never placed between 'settle' and 'for'.

That offer is way below what I expected — I can't settle for it.

would / wouldn't settle for + noun

Used in conditional or hypothetical contexts to talk about what someone would or would not accept.

Would you settle for a compromise, or do you want to push for the full amount?

Common Collocations

settle for lesssettle for second bestsettle for a drawsettle for anythingsettle for a compromisesettle for what you can get

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'settle for' with 'settle on'

'Settle on' means making a final, satisfactory decision — there is no sense of disappointment. 'Settle for' always implies you wanted something better. Use 'settle for' only when the accepted option falls short of what was originally desired.

✗ After looking at dozens of designs, we settled for the one we both loved.
✓ After looking at dozens of designs, we settled on the one we both loved.
Using the present continuous

'Settle for' describes a decision or moment of acceptance, not an ongoing action, so the present continuous sounds very unnatural. Use the present simple, past simple, or modal constructions instead.

✗ I am settling for the cheaper option because there's nothing else available.
✓ I'll settle for the cheaper option because there's nothing else available.
Trying to use the passive

Because 'for' is a preposition that cannot be stranded naturally in a passive construction with this meaning, passive forms of 'settle for' don't work in English. Keep the verb active and make the person who is accepting the subject.

✗ The lower offer was settled for by the whole team.
✓ The whole team settled for the lower offer.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and common in both British and American English. It is especially frequent in motivational and advice contexts, and in sports commentary when a team accepts a draw or lower score.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'settle for' always have a negative feeling?

Almost always, yes — the phrase implies that you wanted something better but accepted less. The one exception is sports commentary, where 'settle for a draw' or 'settle for a tie' is fairly neutral and simply means the team accepted that result. In most other contexts, there is a clear sense of disappointment or compromise.

Can I use 'settle for' in the same way as 'make do with'?

'Settle for' and 'make do with' are close but not identical. 'Settle for' focuses on the moment you accept a lesser option as your final outcome. 'Make do with' focuses more on managing or coping practically with something inadequate — for example, 'we made do with one umbrella between us' is about improvising, not about making a reluctant final choice.

What kinds of things can follow 'settle for'?

Almost any noun can follow 'settle for' — a job, a salary, a result, a compromise, a cheaper product, or even abstract things like 'less' or 'second best'. The key is that the thing being accepted should be something the speaker or subject wanted less than something else. Common collocations include 'settle for less', 'settle for second best', 'settle for a draw', and 'settle for a compromise'.

Is 'settle for' used more in British or American English?

'Settle for' is equally common in both British and American English and carries the same meaning in both varieties. You'll hear and read it in the same contexts — careers, relationships, sports, and motivational language — on both sides of the Atlantic.

Can 'never settle for' or 'don't settle for' be used on their own, without explaining what someone is settling for?

Yes — phrases like 'never settle for less' or 'don't settle for second best' are so well established that the meaning is clear even without a full explanation of what was wanted. These short negative forms are especially common in motivational writing, speeches, and advice, where the implied message is that the listener deserves better than they might currently be accepting.

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