ascertain
Americanverb (used with object)
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to find out definitely; learn with certainty or assurance; determine.
to ascertain the facts.
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Archaic. to make certain, clear, or definitely known.
verb
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to determine or discover definitely
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archaic to make certain
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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unascertainedadjective
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nonascertainablyadverb
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nonascertainablenessnoun
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preascertainverb (used with object)
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nonascertainmentnoun
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unascertainableadjective
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ascertainernoun
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nonascertainableadjective
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well-ascertainedadjective
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unascertainablyadverb
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ascertainableadjective
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ascertainmentnoun
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ascertainablyadverb
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preascertainmentnoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has ascertainedperfect 3rd person singular
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have ascertainedperfect
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are ascertainingprogressive
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ascertainssingular 3rd person
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have been ascertainingperfect progressive
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ascertainingparticiple
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is ascertainingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am ascertainingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been ascertainingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had ascertainedperfect
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were ascertainingprogressive plural
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ascertainedsimple
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was ascertainingprogressive singular
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ascertainedparticiple
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had been ascertainingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of ascertain
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, variant of acertain, assertain, from Middle French acertain-, stem of acertener “to make certain”; equivalent to a- 5 + certain
Explanation
Ascertain is a verb that means to find out something. You might have to go to the bank to ascertain if there is any money in your account. This is a formal word that often applies to discovering the facts or truth about something through examination or experimentation. Information that is ascertained is certain beyond a doubt. If you want a less formal synonym, use discover.
Vocabulary lists containing ascertain
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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.
