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:
Fulfilling the vision for Fifth and Broadway will help determine Gary’s fate, he added.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
I would wander in with my perfectly sized tote, allow whatever charmed me to determine dinner and wait for the ingredients to organize themselves.
From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026
Would it be worthwhile to request a review or hearing to determine whether her SSI amount should be increased based on her current living situation?
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
This allowed the researchers to determine whether the mechanism they observed in worms might also be relevant to human disease.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 3, 2026
At the end of the project, Nathan would measure both groups to determine which was better suited for droughty conditions.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
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"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
If the IRS determines a prohibited transaction occurred, it could invalidate the IRA, resulting in extremely unfavorable tax consequences.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
The study does not show that finger length directly determines brain size.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026
The team determines which names from the management staff are engraved on the trophy, but all names must be approved by the Hockey Hall of Fame and NHL.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
That’s how numbers work in rugby: a player doesn’t pick his number,his position on the team determines that, and it’s something that never gets messed with.
From "Winger" by Andrew Smith
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Instead, determined to argue his case, he opted for a trial at which conviction was all but certain.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
Whatever the case, Moreno appears to have determined that the questions and criticisms had become too loud to ignore.
From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2026
The capital requirements of U.S. insurance companies are primarily determined by the credit ratings of their debt investments.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
Throughout the case, police officers and the justice system appeared determined to place families affected by Legacy at the heart of proceedings.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
He rose to his feet, struck a valiant and determined attitude, all pointing hands and jutting hips—and collapsed with a hideous thump into the bottom of the boat.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
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They got that result due to a state formula for determining who gets air conditioning.
From Slate ● Jul. 31, 2026
Rate expectations play a major role in determining yields in U.S. government bonds, which in turn influence an array of other borrowing costs, such as mortgage rates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
"The court took into account the sharp rise in the value of the defendant's shareholdings when determining the property division ratio," Friday's court statement said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
These particles may offer new biomarkers for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and determining how far it has progressed.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
Supersonic aircraft and missiles were determining the course of the Cold War, but so too would “science textbooks and racial relations.”
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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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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