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:
Through these vessels was possible to ascertain many pieces of information.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 26, 2026
US non-farm payrolls figures later Friday are in focus as traders try to ascertain the Fed's next move after last month's rate hike.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
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
It's a selling point but it requires additional testing to ascertain whether the bigger windows hold up as well as the smaller ones.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
What sorts of excuses people had used on that first morning to get the doctor and the locksmith out of the house Gregor was completely unable to ascertain.
From "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka
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 collective efficiency of the Bismarckian idea, as worked out in the German Constitution, promptly ascertains the will of the people, and carries out that will.
From Blood and Iron Origin of German Empire As Revealed by Character of Its Founder, Bismarck by John Hubert Greusel
The researchers also assessed severity of CTE and found a connection between high grade CTE and dementia before death, with the latter ascertained by the players' medical notes and interviews with family members.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
The study suggested that the current outbreak is "larger than currently ascertained" and that its "true magnitude remains uncertain".
From BBC ● May 19, 2026
We drove alongside some of the vehicles, peered in windows, and ascertained it was nothing.
From Slate ● Oct. 27, 2025
Arbuthnot’s name, age, home address and exact military standing were all ascertained.
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
The export control amounts to a de facto ban on the model since Anthropic has no way of ascertaining the nationality of its users.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 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
The 1967 Public Health Act already allows for officers to enter "any premises' at all" for the purpose of "ascertaining whether there is, or has been" any breach of the rules.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2024
But ascertaining numbers has been stymied by privacy limits that Capasa said the new survey hopes to overcome.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 21, 2024
I’d had no way of ascertaining the quarter’s true purpose or powers.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
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!
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a word