What does stipulate mean?
Word: Stipulate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Stipulate means to state clearly that something must be done, often as part of a rule or an agreement.
Synonyms: lay down
How do you spell stipulate?
Syllables: stip - u - late
Tricky part: The weak vowel in the middle gets written as e or i. It is a u.
Watch out for: stipelate, stipilate, stipalate
Memory tip: Agreements stipulate rules, and the u inside rules is the u you need in the weak middle of this word.
Stipulate in a sentence
Example 1: The contest entry form will stipulate the longest essay allowed.
Example 2: Our lease does stipulate that the garden must be kept tidy.
Example 3: Sponsors may stipulate that their name appears on the team shirts.
Fun Fact
It comes from a Latin verb meaning to demand a formal promise. Some old writers linked it with a straw snapped to seal a bargain, though scholars question that story.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is correct. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. elaberate 2. stipulate 3. comprimise 4. amendmant
a) a small change made to a document
b) to settle a dispute with each side giving way a little
c) to give more details about something
d) to set down a firm condition
Show answer
d) to set down a firm condition. Compromise, elaborate and amendment each carry a slip in the list.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word stipulate as used in the sentence:
The rules of the art competition stipulate that every painting must be on A3 paper.
a) doubt
b) specify
c) suggest
d) ignore
Show answer
b) specify. The rules fix one exact paper size; suggest would be too weak for that.
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence contains a jumbled word. Choose the word it hides:
Good contracts tlipautes exactly when each payment has to be made.
a) speculate
b) postulate
c) stimulate
d) stipulate
Show answer
d) stipulate. Look for the i and the p together: stimulate lacks the p, and the other two lack the i.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Before the inter-school quiz began on Saturday morning, the organisers reminded every team that the printed rules stippulate a strict limit of sixty seconds for each spoken answer.
a) stippulate
b) reminded
c) seconds
d) organisers
Show answer
a) stippulate. The first vowel here is short, but a single p still follows it.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A hostel notice stipulates that lights must be out by ten. How should a student treat this?
a) as a rough guess about bedtime
b) as friendly advice to think about
c) as a rule that has to be obeyed
d) as a question for the warden
Show answer
c) as a rule that has to be obeyed
2. Who is stipulating here?
a) 'I wonder whether it will rain on the way home.'
b) 'Could you tell me where the bus stop is, please?'
c) 'You may borrow my bike, provided it is back by six.'
d) 'That was the best mango I have eaten this year.'
Show answer
c) 'You may borrow my bike, provided it is back by six.'
