Synonyms

ascertain

American

[as-er-teyn] / ˌæs ərˈteɪn /

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.

ascertain British

/ ˌæsəˈteɪn /

verb

to determine or discover definitely
archaic 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

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

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

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.

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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.

Ascertain and report at once extent of fire loss and need of relief.

From Time Magazine Archive

Ascertain what the governor must have written in regard to the site given them.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 17 of 55 1609-1616 Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century by Robertson, James Alexander

Ascertain as soon as possible that man's tastes; what he reads and what he delights in.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 623, December 10, 1887 by Various

Ascertain all possible particulars of a personal character concerning the generals and chief officers.

From Bulgaria by Fox, Frank, Sir

An hour later simultaneous messages were speeding over the wires to my correspondents in London, Amsterdam and Hamburg: Ascertain what becomes of all cigarettes made by Gregorides; brand, Crown Aa.

From The International Spy Being the Secret History of the Russo-Japanese War by Upward, Allen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023