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:
Through these vessels was possible to ascertain many pieces of information.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 26, 2026
US non-farm payrolls figures later Friday are in focus as traders try to ascertain the Fed's next move after last month's rate hike.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
L.A. attorney Brian Claypool, who handles wrongful death litigation, said the autopsy and toxicology results “will be crucial in this tragic death to ascertain legal liability.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
“He was nearby on the scene there, and we were working trying to ascertain his identity and the motivations behind that,” Hicks said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
Mr Lewis, so far as I could ascertain, had already retired.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
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
If your father is living, he never leaves the ground on which he was encamped, until he ascertains the fate of his children.
From The American Family Robinson or, The Adventures of a Family lost in the Great Desert of the West by D. W. (David W.) Belisle
A third person whose injuries had yet to be ascertained was in the process of being brought to hospital.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
The study suggested that the current outbreak is "larger than currently ascertained" and that its "true magnitude remains uncertain".
From BBC ● May 19, 2026
The exact number of crew members could not be ascertained but the source added it could be between six and eight people.
From BBC ● Jan. 16, 2026
We drove alongside some of the vehicles, peered in windows, and ascertained it was nothing.
From Slate ● Oct. 27, 2025
On inquiring further, I ascertained that the house had been a very small one in which he had been the only full-time employee.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
The return on the S&P 500 isn’t based on picking winners or ascertaining market sentiment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
On Monday evening, Assam Director General of Police GP Singh had said that authorities were ascertaining the exact number of people trapped.
From BBC ● Jan. 7, 2025
Her petition said they are still ascertaining the assets to be identified as separate and community property.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2024
“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’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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