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:
The sanity phase of the trial will determine whether he was insane at the time of the act.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
Coroners would determine the cause and manner of his death, the national park said.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
For Mahony, it isn’t profit and loss that will determine DSI’s success, but the credibility it brings to Indonesia’s market.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
Researchers are also working to determine the ultimate accuracy of the microcomb system.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
To understand the parabola, Archimedes had to learn how to measure it; for instance, nobody knew how to determine the area of a section of a parabola.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
The crackdown also comes amid questions over how Hegseth determines who gets access to Pentagon information.
From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026
“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
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
Your cost of living now likely determines your cost of living in retirement.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
I don’t want to look at something that determines me so completely.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
Chief executive David Ritchie called the losses "regrettable and disappointing", but said he was determined to demonstrate that a "commercially disciplined development bank can deliver for Scotland".
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
The remaining shareholder return plan will be determined at its January board meeting, after 2026 results are confirmed, the company said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026
“I was told it wouldn’t work, but that just made me more determined to prove that a focused concept would work.”
From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2026
The disclosure quotes Title VI: No funding may be terminated “until the department or agency . . . has determined that compliance cannot be secured by voluntary means.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
Those East Village bubbes were single-mindedly determined to see to it that she and Molly would at last find their basherts, their soulmates, and be happily wed.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
The initial phase of the trial, which concluded Monday, focused on determining whether Salazar committed the killing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
This ratio matters if you need to apply for another loan the following school year, because lenders consider it when determining applicants’ creditworthiness.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026
Cohen’s office said in a statement that its bill “clarifies existing law and establishes a consistent, common-sense standard for determining whether an owner remains connected to a securities account.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
The team discovered that electrical charge is a key factor in determining whether antibody fragments can remain stable and functional inside cells.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
Alternatively, mathematics is sometimes endowed with a coercive character which is somehow capable of determining our future.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
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!
