diagnose
Americanverb (used with object)
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to determine the identity of (a disease, illness, etc.) by a medical examination.
The doctor diagnosed the illness as influenza.
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to ascertain the cause or nature of (a disorder, malfunction, problem, etc.) from the symptoms.
The mechanic diagnosed the trouble that caused the engine knock.
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to classify or determine on the basis of scientific examination.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to determine or distinguish by diagnosis
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(tr) to examine (a person or thing), as for a disease
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of diagnose
First recorded in 1860–65; back formation from diagnosis
Explanation
If you diagnose a disease, you recognize it by the signs and symptoms your patient shows. Your high temperature and the green crud you keep coughing up will allow your doctor to diagnose your bronchitis. The verb diagnose was first used in medicine, meaning "make a diagnosis," or identify a disease by observation of symptoms. Use it to describe the process of figuring it out. If you have bad gut pain, ask your doctor to diagnose your condition. You can also use diagnose for other problems, like if you diagnose poverty and malnutrition as the real causes of a student's terrible behavior, or diagnose the virus that caused your computer to crash.
Vocabulary lists containing diagnose
100 Great Words from "Fahrenheit 451" -- Part I Vocabulary
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Mother's Day Words: What Mothers Do
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“About Edward Jenner” from the Jenner Institute
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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.
In a 2018 appearance on “Today,” Cohen said that when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 25, he was “essentially told there is no hope. Diagnose and adios, not much we can do.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 7, 2025
Diagnose: From the ancient practice of assessing a patient’s condition through the sense of smell, particularly for urinalysis.
From Washington Post • Oct. 20, 2016
“How To Diagnose a Toddler with ADHD: Don’t all little kids have short attention spans?” by Brian Palmer.
From Slate • Oct. 22, 2011
Satellites Diagnose Disease Outbreaks Space-based data are helping to track and predict the spread of deadly diseases By Katherine Harmon Many contagious diseases spread through carriers such as birds and mosquitoes.
From Scientific American • May 1, 2011
The Doctor said that as nearly as he could Diagnose her Case, she seemed to be Worn Out.
From More Fables by Ade, George
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
