calculate
Americanverb (used with object)
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calculates,
present (3rd person singular)
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calculated,
past participle, past
-
calculating
present participle
-
to determine or ascertain by mathematical methods; compute.
to calculate the velocity of light.
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to determine by reasoning, common sense, or practical experience; estimate; evaluate; gauge.
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to make suitable or fit for a purpose; adapt (usually used passively and with an infinitive).
His remarks were calculated to inspire our confidence.
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Chiefly Northern U.S.
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to think; guess.
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to intend; plan.
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verb (used without object)
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calculates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
calculated,
past participle, past
-
calculating
present participle
-
to make a computation or form an estimate.
-
to count or rely (usually followed by on orupon ).
They calculated on good weather.
verb
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to solve (one or more problems) by a mathematical procedure; compute
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(tr; may take a clause as object) to determine beforehand by judgment, reasoning, etc; estimate
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(tr; usually passive) to design specifically; aim
the car was calculated to appeal to women
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(intr; foll by on or upon) to depend; rely
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dialect (tr; may take a clause as object)
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to suppose; think
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to intend (to do something)
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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calculatesimple
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calculatessimple
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have calculatedperfect
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has calculatedperfect
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am calculatingprogressive
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are calculatingprogressive
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is calculatingprogressive
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have been calculatingperfect progressive
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has been calculatingperfect progressive
Past
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calculatedsimple
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had calculatedperfect
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was calculatingprogressive
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were calculatingprogressive
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had been calculatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of calculate
First recorded in 1560–70; from Late Latin calculātus “reckoned,” past participle of calculāre “to reckon,” derivative of calculus “pebble”; see calculus
Explanation
To calculate is to compute, by figuring out a mathematical equation or a situation. You can calculate your monthly student loan payments, or calculate the risk of not paying them on time. Calculate derives from the Latin word for "count." When you calculate, you either count something up or calculate on something happening. You might be able to calculate the answer to a simple equation in your head but need a calculator to figure out a more complex problem. And when someone is calculating, they are scheming or conniving, always figuring out the fastest way to get ahead.
Vocabulary lists containing calculate
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry
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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:
Spain lengthened the wage history used to calculate payouts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026
These included failure to correctly calculate her Paediatric Early Warning System, external score on several occasions, which would have led to a much earlier medical review and chest X-ray.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
Instead of assuming data for every region, this modelling uses statistical probability to calculate a range of likely outcomes based on environmental signals.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026
Another switch could be to a chained COLA, which is a more complicated way to calculate annual adjustments.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026
We can calculate reliably the path a rocket will take as it flies from the earth to Mars.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Statewide, more than 4 million votes remain to be counted in this race, according to the Associated Press, which calculates the expected vote using returns and other data.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026
The enhanced angle-of-attack system calculates the angle of the plane’s nose versus sensor readings on the aircraft.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
The medical-cost ratio is a closely watched metric that calculates the percentage of health-insurance premium revenue that UnitedHealth spends on medical care.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
Sarah Godwin calculates it cost her family's Wiltshire farm "over £100,000".
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
I wonder how she calculates her pace—with her watch or with her brain.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
The DfE said its guidance sets out "how repayments are calculated across the different repayment plans", adding that it was "vital" that university applicants have "clear and accurate information".
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
Careers evolve when adaptable workers take calculated risks and move into new roles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
In fact, the researchers calculated that Siwarha is likely tens to hundreds of times too faint to be detected directly with the radio measurements they collected.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026
A total of 42% of Americans have never calculated how much money they’ll need in retirement, according to a Evergreen.ai, a financial-planning platform.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
With cold, calculated detachment he wheeled about as his opponent charged.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Into this maelstrom of social jockeying Dostoevsky cast the gentle Prince Myshkin, whose lack of guile makes him a figure of fun among the vain and calculating people he encounters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
One way to measure is calculating biomass, which refers to plant life by weight but is complicated to do.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
Von Foerster and his co-authors then projected these historical figures into the future, calculating that thanks to ever-increasing growth, in the year 2026 our numbers would near infinity.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026
When calculating total sea ice extent, scientists assume this region is covered by ice.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
Here was a new stunner—I had been calculating on four or five thousand.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
