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.
Instead of assuming a detailed theory from the start, scientists begin with a few broad principles they believe nature must obey and then determine what laws naturally emerge.
From Science Daily • May 19, 2026
Police were reviewing footage of the scene to determine whether the crossing guard was negligent, he told reporters.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
For people planning to take a GLP-1, there are few ways to determine in advance if they’ll respond to the pricey medications.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
Kaiser Permanente is still trying to determine the source of bacteria responsible for 19 recent cases of Legionella infection identified at a hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
A Jesuit mathematician did the geometry calculations to determine the distance to a stockpile of gunpowder the Dutch had brought ashore and the angle of elevation at which the cannon should be set.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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!
