This is the 11378th most frequent Russian word.
диктуют
"Dictate" or "impose."
Here, 'диктуют' refers to the act of enforcing or imposing rules in a metaphorical sense.
Обстоятельства диктуют свои правила.
Circumstances dictate their own rules.
In this sentence, 'диктует' represents the literal action of speaking aloud for the purpose of writing down.
Учитель диктует ученикам текст.
The teacher is dictating the text to the students.
In this example, 'диктует' is used to describe influence or shaping trends and choices.