Settle on means to choose something after thinking it over or discussing it. Have you settled on a date? asks whether the decision is made. There's no disappointment in it: the chosen option may well be the best one. Settle upon means the same but sounds more formal.
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settle on / upon a choice; settle on doing something
- After comparing three layouts, we settled on the simplest one.
- Have you settled on a date for the workshop?
- They settled on taking the earlier train.
What changed
First versionAfter discussing the options, we settled on to meet online.
RevisionAfter discussing the options, we settled on meeting online.
Decide takes to: decided to meet. So settled on to meet seems right. But on is a preposition, and after a preposition a verb takes -ing: settled on meeting. With a noun it's simpler: settled on Friday, settled on a name.
Settle for means accept a worse option: we settled for the last train because the others were full. Settle on means just choose: we settled on the early train because it's faster. Decide takes to: decided to meet, but settled on meeting.
Your turn
Keep the phrasal verb settle on: We settled on ___ the smaller room.
Show the answer
booking — On is a preposition, so the verb after it is booking. To book would follow decided, but not settle on.
Describe the option you finally chose after comparing a few: a date, a café or a present.
We settled on the library meeting room because everyone can reach it by bus.
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