At the tone, you dictate, for example, an e-mail message.

Arriving there, he dictated another segment for his daily journal.

She came in; they said "Good morning" formally, and he dictated letters for an hour.

There was no police force, but common sense dictated the need for a standing army.

We have allowed fate to dictate our choices for us.

He can no longer be allowed to dictate the terms or the timetable for resolution of the conflict.

As regards drugs, it is needs that must dictate our strategy for action to deal with the worldwide issue of health and development.

It would dictate US policy for the next twenty years.

He tries to dictate a policy for the largest toy producing company in the world.

He had the standing to dictate the terms of engagement for this black-and-white production.