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:
Crucially, adult cuttlefish only live about 12 to 18 months, Katz said, "so the success of one breeding season is going to determine the population next year".
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
"While it appears likely the algal bloom has impacted cuttlefish numbers, researchers are working to determine whether this contributed to the reduced population or was just one of the potential impacts."
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Researchers hope to determine whether these strategies can further enhance axon regeneration and improve recovery following spinal cord injury, stroke, or other neurological diseases.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026
Astronomers will use those observations to build large catalogs and then apply physical models to determine what those catalogs reveal about the structure and evolution of the universe.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026
I could tell she was measuring up its shadow to determine the approximate hour.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
“A5 Wagyu has more fat, which you see from the marbling inside. That’s what determines the highest grade.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
The crackdown also comes amid questions over how Hegseth determines who gets access to Pentagon information.
From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026
According to Ben Snider and his portfolio strategy research team, what determines stock market returns for this asset class at present are prospects for the AI trade.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
It receives signals from throughout the brain, determines which information is most important, and helps coordinate the appropriate response.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
Dobzhansky could now restate the essential truth of Mendel’s discovery—a gene determines a physical feature—by generalizing that idea across multiple genes and multiple features: a genotype determines a phenotype.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
In short, we determined that bankruptcy does give people a fresh start, but getting that reprieve takes longer than the law’s intent.
From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026
They determined that her father was deceased and from Cameron County, Texas.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
In exchange, the National Park Service would receive land of equal value in another part of California that has yet to be determined.
From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026
It notes that, while the exact sequence of events is still being determined, experts believe the flash floods were caused by a collapsing glacier in Tibet.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
The protesters were met by a group of counterprotesters who are determined to make sure the Manor opens and welcomes as many people of color as possible.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
That means fractures, pores, and other pathways through the rock could play a critical role in determining whether natural hydrogen can be generated efficiently enough to become a practical energy resource.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026
What remains stubbornly difficult is determining what any individual piece of information should mean to the person deciding what to put in her cart.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2026
Except it can be tricky determining when an influencer’s business is up and active for tax purposes.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
The Brookings review also noted that an important question for Treasurys was understanding “whether or not new demand from stablecoins would be stable or volatile” when determining “the optimal debt maturity structure.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
“We feel that. . . limitations of funds should not be a determining factor to pursue some of this work.”
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Vocabulary lists containing determine
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Vocabulary of the Common Core
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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