assess

American  

[uh-ses] / əˈsɛs /

verb (used with object)

assesses, present (3rd person singular) assessed, past participle, past assessing present participle

1. to estimate officially the value of (property, income, etc.) as a basis for taxation.

2. to fix or determine the amount of (damages, a tax, a fine, etc.).

   The hurricane damage was assessed at six million dollars.

   Synonyms:

   adjust, appraise

3. to impose a tax or other charge on.

4. to estimate or judge the value, character, etc., of; evaluate.

   to assess one's efforts.

   Synonyms:

   appraise

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assess British  

/ əˈsɛs /

verb

1. to judge the worth, importance, etc, of; evaluate

2. (foll by at) to estimate the value of (income, property, etc) for taxation purposes

   the estate was assessed at three thousand pounds

3. to determine the amount of (a fine, tax, damages, etc)

4. to impose a tax, fine, etc, on (a person or property)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• reassess
  verb (used with object)
• unassessed
  adjective
• unassessable
  adjective
• well-assessed
  adjective
• overassess
  verb (used with object)
• assessable
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has assessed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have assessed
  perfect
• am assessing
  progressive 1st person singular
• are assessing
  progressive
• is assessing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been assessing
  perfect progressive
• assesses
  singular 3rd person
• has been assessing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• assessing
  participle

Past

• had assessed
  perfect
• had been assessing
  perfect progressive
• were assessing
  progressive plural
• was assessing
  progressive singular
• assessed
  participle
• assessed
  simple

Future

• will assess
  simple
• will have assessed
  perfect
• will have been assessing
  perfect progressive
• will be assessing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of assess

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English assessen, from Old French assesser, from Medieval Latin assessāre “to assess a tax,” derivative of Latin assessus “seated beside (a judge)” (past participle of assidēre ), equivalent to as- “toward” + sed- (stem of sedēre “to sit”) + -tus past participle suffix; see as-, sit ¹

Explanation

Before you try to sell your car, you should ask an expert to assess its value — once you know what it's worth, it's easier to find a fair price. When you assess a matter, you make a judgment about it. The verb assess has the general meaning of determining the importance or value of something. It also has a few specialized uses having to do with amounts of money, such as fines, fees, and taxes. It can mean to set the value of property for purposes of taxation, or to charge a person or business a tax or fee. Assess comes from Anglo-French usage, and is ultimately derived from the Latin verb assidēre, "to sit as a judge."

Example Sentences

By measuring the generated thrust and operating the thrusters continuously for periods of up to 100 hours, the team was able to assess the fuel's performance and efficiency.

From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026

The news comes at a delicate time for Japanese monetary policy steering as officials assess the economy’s ability to absorb higher rates while the Iran crisis generates uncertainty about the trajectory for growth and inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Part of the answer may lie in how Iran's leaders assess their position after months of conflict.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

The seven OPEC+ nations said they would continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions, and reaffirmed their “full flexibility to increase, pause or reverse.”

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

A couple of kids standing nearby screamed in terror, and their parents looked alarmed for about one second—all the time it took to assess the situation.

From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling

Related Words

• appraise
• check
• determine
• estimate
• fix
• gauge
• judge
• weigh