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:
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
On Saturday Greek police said they were fast-tracking toxicology reports in order to ascertain the cause of her death, potentially "in the coming days".
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
“We are working to ascertain his identity and the motivations.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026
Technological limitations make it impossible to ascertain precisely where Misiorowski ranks in the pantheon of baseball’s great fastball artists.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 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
The animal soon learns it must submit, and quickly ascertains you have no desire to hurt it.
From The Dog by Dinks
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 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
She’s ascertained that she’s not a child and not an adult; not the sick little girl named Marcy who she used to be, nor her maker’s favorite.
From Salon ● Sep. 24, 2025
But from Thames Verlet drove straight to Marsden Wharf, where he visited the Rainbow Warrior, ate a piece of cake, and ascertained the schedule for the evening.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2025
As for Mr and Mrs Taylor themselves, I have ascertained that they ran the village green grocery here from the twenties until their retirement three years ago.
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
And if you’re brave enough to step deeper into the lot, yet clearly not confident in ascertaining a Golden Pothos from a Pothos N’Joy, a woman with a warm smile will approach you kindly.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 13, 2025
But ascertaining numbers has been stymied by privacy limits that Capasa said the new survey hopes to overcome.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 21, 2024
The technology could also play a crucial role in interpreting uncertain mammogram results, evaluating the response to chemotherapy and ascertaining the extent of disease in newly diagnosed breast cancer, including involvement of the other breast.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 9, 2024
“Miss Miggery, my dear, I do not want to appear too forward so early in our acquaintance, but may I inquire, am I right in ascertaining that you have aspirations?”
From "The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread" by Kate DiCamillo
Vocabulary lists containing ascertain
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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!
Night
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!
The Bill of Rights
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!
