ascertain
[ as-er-teyn ]
/ ˌæs ərˈteɪn /
Save This Word!
verb (used with object)
to find out definitely; learn with certainty or assurance; determine: to ascertain the facts.
Archaic. to make certain, clear, or definitely known.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!
Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.
Question 1 of 7
“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
Meet Grammar Coach
Improve Your Writing
Origin of ascertain
OTHER WORDS FROM ascertain
Words nearby ascertain
Ascension Day, ascensionist, Ascensiontide, ascensive, ascent, ascertain, ascesis, ascetic, asceticism, Asch, Aschaffenburg
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
WHEN TO USE
What are other ways to say ascertain?
To ascertain something is to determine it or learn it with certainty or assurance. How is ascertain different from the learn, discover, and detect? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Example sentences from the Web for ascertain
British Dictionary definitions for ascertain
ascertain
/ (ˌæsəˈteɪn) /
verb (tr)
to determine or discover definitely
archaic to make certain
Derived forms of ascertain
ascertainable, adjectiveascertainably, adverbascertainment, nounWord Origin for ascertain
C15: from Old French acertener to make certain
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012