determine
Americanverb (used with object)
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determines,
present (3rd person singular)
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determined,
past participle, past
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determining
present participle
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to conclude or ascertain, as after reasoning, observation, etc.
- Synonyms:
- verify
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to settle or decide (a dispute, question, etc.) by an authoritative or conclusive decision.
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to cause, affect, or control; fix or decide causally.
Demand for a product usually determines supply.
- Synonyms:
- influence
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to give direction or tendency to; impel.
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Geometry. to fix the position of.
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Logic. to limit (a notion) by adding differentiating characteristics.
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Chiefly Law. to put an end to; terminate.
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to lead or bring (a person) to a decision.
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to decide upon.
verb (used without object)
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determines,
present (3rd person singular)
-
determined,
past participle, past
-
determining
present participle
-
to come to a decision or resolution; decide.
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Chiefly Law. to come to an end.
verb
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to settle or decide (an argument, question, etc) conclusively, as by referring to an authority
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(tr) to ascertain or conclude, esp after observation or consideration
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(tr) to shape or influence; give direction to
experience often determines ability
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(tr) to fix in scope, extent, variety, etc
the river determined the edge of the property
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to make or cause to make a decision
he determined never to marry
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(tr) logic to define or limit (a notion) by adding or requiring certain features or characteristics
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(tr) geometry to fix or specify the position, form, or configuration of
two points determine a line
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law to come or bring to an end, as an estate or interest in land
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(tr) to decide (a legal action or dispute)
Usage
What does determine mean? Determine means to conclude, as after reasoning or observing, as in After considering all my options, I’ve determined which college I want to attend. Generally, to determine something is to come to a conclusive decision from a place of authority on the subject. Determine can also mean to cause or control, as in How much homework my teacher assigns will determine whether I can go to the game tonight. Determine is also used to mean to give direction to, as a boss might determine what tasks their employees will do. Example: I have determined that the cause of death was cardiac arrest.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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quasi-determineverb
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redetermineverb
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interdetermineverb (used with object)
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undeterminingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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determinesimple
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determinessimple
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have determinedperfect
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has determinedperfect
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am determiningprogressive
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are determiningprogressive
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is determiningprogressive
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have been determiningperfect progressive
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has been determiningperfect progressive
Past
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determinedsimple
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had determinedperfect
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was determiningprogressive
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were determiningprogressive
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had been determiningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of determine
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French determiner, from Latin dētermināre “to mark out and fix boundaries,” equivalent to dē- prefix indicating separation + termināre “to bound, limit”; see de-, terminate
Explanation
If you determine something, you figure it out or settle a question, like when, after checking paws and hands, you determine that it's not the dog that ate your candy stash, but your kid sister. Determine comes from the Latin for "bring to a close," and when you determine something, you have closed all the questions you have about it and are quite sure you know the answer. If you become a detective, you'll have to determine who did the crime. After working through a mathematical problem, you determine the value of X. Determine can also mean influence. Your childhood spent in your grandmother's delightful kitchen might have determined your future career as a baker.
Vocabulary lists containing determine
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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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:
The World Health Organization appealed to Russian authorities five times this month for more information about what happened in Irkutsk as it tried to determine the level of danger posed by Shipilova’s death.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
“The senators elected this November — and likely the president elected in 2028 — will be the leaders who determine what to do about Social Security’s financing gap.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026
The BBC has spoken to residents living near the site who would like their blood tested to determine if they have been disproportionately exposed.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
Researchers plan to study additional samples to determine how other indicators of past climate and environmental conditions fit into this much longer history.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
“As much as I would like to do a Vulcan mind meld with you all, it’s probably not our wisest move. Not this year. The Excelsior judges wouldn’t be able to determine who did what.”
From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein
Under state law, magistrates are to “impose the least onerous conditions” when deciding bail and should set bail “as low as the court determines is necessary” to assure the defendant returns to court.
From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2026
What’s more, the ongoing price shock in energy markets isn’t just about headline benchmark prices as the price of crude oil is only part of what determines the cost to supply the world with fuel.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026
Voter registration records are based on a person’s physical residential address, which determines the districts where they can vote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
The network determines the fees that are charged each time a card is used, but the money is mostly pocketed by the issuer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Then came the mechanism by which an organism determines where these structures are to be placed: front or back, left or right, above or below.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
In her autobiography, to be published in early 2027, she says she was a "rebellious little girl", determined to show that people did not need "the right name" to succeed.
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026
Whether they plan to go there and, if so, when, couldn’t be determined.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
Researchers have not yet determined its chemical identity, although the evidence suggests it may be a molecule not previously recognized in fire salamanders.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026
“Those who are determined to have provided false information will not be permitted to speak at this meeting or the next scheduled meeting,” the mayor warned at the beginning.
From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026
And I know something else: if he’s out there, I’m determined to find him and see where he fits.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
The researchers identified a family of these solutions associated with the radiation-dominated period of the early universe, when radiation played a major role in determining how the cosmos evolved.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
Here, she’s also running the campaign for the Joint List, an alliance of Arab parties that could have some determining influence in the overall election outcome.
From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026
New York City issued 16 new permits after determining that a near-partial collapse in the former Pfizer building didn’t represent an inherent risk.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
"An autopsy will be conducted to assist in determining the exact cause of death."
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
One of the first tasks assigned to the new technique was determining the age of the Clovis culture.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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