determine
Usage
What are other ways to say determine?
To determine is to arrive at a conclusion after reasoning or observation: He determined that there was no available path to victory. To resolve is to show firmness of purpose: He resolved to ask for a promotion. To decide is to make up one's mind as to what shall be done and the way to do it: He decided to go today.
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:
Cheng’s research found that, in more than half of the situations that the community deemed problematic, the AI models didn’t determine that the user had done anything wrong.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Jacob Frenkel, a former U.S. attorney, said it appears clear a focus of the investigation into Walter’s businesses is to determine whether the restatements were just errors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
When the fossils were originally found, scientists had far fewer mosasaur specimens available for comparison, making it difficult to determine exactly what kind of mosasaur the bones represented.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026
Medicare generally uses your income from two years earlier to determine whether you pay higher Part B and Part D premiums.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026
It is a variation of the basic principle that if you know one angle and one side of an equilateral or right-angled triangle, then you can determine the other angles and sides.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
![]()
But footage from shootings or incidents resulting in death or serious injury will be released promptly only when ICE determines doing so is in the agency’s “best interests,” according to the policy.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
That is because the credit rating on each investment generally determines the dollar amount an insurer must set aside to protect against the risk of loss.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
The commission then determines whether the station has “served the public interest” and has not run afoul of the “rules and regulations of the Commission.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
"As long as a single test determines access to scarce opportunities, there will be strong incentives for exam malpractice, regardless of the testing format," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
But here’s the thing: It is the atom’s electrical charge that determines how it behaves in relationship to the atoms around it.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
![]()
Rejecting an appeal by the family, Migration Court of Appeal documents state "when weighing up the state's interest in regulated immigration" and Mason's "private life", it determined expulsion was "proportionate".
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
“I determined after being there for a while that it wasn’t the right place for me to raise a family,” said Dr. Rollins.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
Experts later determined she suffered from severe anemia; blood clots in both wings and one kidney; liver and lung abnormalities; and inadequate bone marrow response.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Ipswich Town are determined to sign German striker Derry Scherhant, 23, from Freiburg this summer.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
The press had found their star in the blunt old man determined to stay by his mountain.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
![]()
The challenge was determining exactly where the immune cells inside the brain had originated.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026
There are many factors that go into determining how much of an impact eliminating the tax cap would have on the program’s bottom line.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
The company which owns and operates the pager network said it provides encrypted paging and secure messaging solutions, with "customers determining how those services are deployed".
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Chipotle says it has removed jalapeños from some of its restaurants after determining the peppers could be tied to a salmonella outbreak public health officials are investigating.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
At meals, few spake; none came to dine; Mr. 03-01 surveyed the paintings on the walls, determining in what order they should be sold to discharge his debts.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
![]()
Vocabulary lists containing determine
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Vocabulary of the Common Core
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!