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:
It helps determine when to be diplomatic, when to joke, and how to interpret countless social cues.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
By April 19, the tilt sensor measurements were accelerating at a rate that made scientists determine a collapse was imminent.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
He added: "Once we've got a date for length of time for this, that will determine whether the upcoming closures, for example of George Street for the festival, has to be a consideration or not."
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
Their role, they said, was to determine whether certain expert testimony should have been admitted.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
For years mathematicians struggled to determine whether C was indeed א.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
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
As so often in Hitchcock’s work, the choice of milieus determines the suspense and the moral significance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
It determines the amount of cash the Welsh government receives, based mainly on share of population.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
Ultimately, the annuity contract determines what options are available.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 18, 2026
“What determines which gate is used?” asked Jesper.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
A UC faculty task force recommended keeping the SAT in 2020, but the regents overruled it and voted to develop a UC-specific test that a committee later determined would take too long to create.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
But she determined in Monday’s ruling that she still had inherent authority to impose sanctions because the original lawsuit was filed in bad faith.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
“I am committed to returning inflation to the FOMC’s 2% goal but also determined to avoid overtightening policy and risking a recession,” he said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with Hollywood stars Nicole Kidman and Ben Stiller, watched on as Sinner worked his way through the match against a determined Zverev.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
Harry Truman loved Mount St. Helens, but the scientists were the ones determined to understand what was coming.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
One project uses AI analysis of anonymised mobile phone data to spot mass-population movements during disasters, determining where people are fleeing, to help humanitarians better tailor their response.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
Many characteristics go into determining someone’s sex: chromosomes, reproductive organs, hormonal balances, secondary sex characteristics like breast tissue and body-hair distribution.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
Iranian foreign policy will be the determining factor for global energy flows.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
One of the primary goals of astrobiology is determining whether life exists elsewhere in the universe.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 30, 2026
Famously he promised Patterson that determining the age of the Earth with his new method would be "duck soup."
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
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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