ascertain
Usage
What are other ways to say ascertain?
To ascertain is to verify facts by inquiry or analysis: to ascertain the truth about an event. To learn is to add to one's knowledge or information: to learn a language. The verb discover is used with objective clauses as a synonym of learn in order to suggest that the new information acquired is surprising to the learner: I discovered that she had been married before. To detect implies becoming aware of something that had been obscure, secret, or concealed: to detect a flaw in reasoning.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It would take time, however, to determine who they were, as the commission will need to ascertain whether the identity tags and Kuban shield actually belong to the two soldiers found.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Without further information, it is impossible to ascertain their validity.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Technological limitations make it impossible to ascertain precisely where Misiorowski ranks in the pantheon of baseball’s great fastball artists.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
We just never noticed because we kept looking down at our feet, trying to ascertain a way out.
From Salon ● May 30, 2026
Shortly before I’d been arrested by IOI, I’d taken some time to examine the toy Leopardon robot and ascertain its powers.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
Henry plays it safe: He ascertains John is gay so shares his chapters via mail.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 29, 2022
On the other hand, logical analysis ascertains whether the premises of an argument support the conclusion.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 15, 2022
“Insikt Group ascertains with high confidence that the top tools on underground forums will continue to change,” the report said.
From Fox News ● Jul. 27, 2019
“The court looks at the impact and the motivation - if it is an ethical violation, if it is an administrative violation - and then ascertains if the punishment fits the crime,” Grevemberg said.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 2, 2018
Mlle Helouin goes to Arches and ascertains that no one is near to listen.
From The Romance of a Poor Young Man A Drama Adapted from the French of Octave Feuillet by Pierrepont Edwards
Further tests were done by a pathologist and forensic anthropologist, but a cause of death could not be ascertained.
From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026
But from Thames Verlet drove straight to Marsden Wharf, where he visited the Rainbow Warrior, ate a piece of cake, and ascertained the schedule for the evening.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2025
Both Prieur and Mafart had been involved in planning the operation back in Paris—it was Prieur who had first ascertained the ship’s itinerary by calling Lloyd’s of London and posing as a journalist.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2025
Norfolk Police said the cause of death could not be ascertained from the post-mortem examination on Thursday.
From BBC ● Nov. 22, 2024
I ascertained that they wished me to perform, and it behove me to comply, that I might avoid detection.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
The export control amounts to a de facto ban on the model since Anthropic has no way of ascertaining the nationality of its users.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
And if you’re brave enough to step deeper into the lot, yet clearly not confident in ascertaining a Golden Pothos from a Pothos N’Joy, a woman with a warm smile will approach you kindly.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 13, 2025
“Sourcing gold from the UAE is notoriously risky,” the report said, describing the difficulty in ascertaining the origins of the refined gold.
From Seattle Times ● May 30, 2024
"I am writing this letter to you, with the main purpose of ascertaining your feelings towards a subject well known to both of us," it began.
From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2024
I’d had no way of ascertaining the quarter’s true purpose or powers.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
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