calculate
Americanverb (used with object)
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calculates,
present (3rd person singular)
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calculated,
past participle, past
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calculating
present participle
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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.
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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:
The team then combined those findings with worldwide population figures and body weight data to calculate how human metabolic CO2 production had changed over time.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 7, 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
To calculate an investor’s multiple, we allocate benefits according to ownership and divide by the amount invested.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
In simple terms, it uses powerful computers to calculate how gas, dark matter, and light influenced one another as the young universe developed.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2026
She’s got to be in one of these spots! he thought, beginning to calculate the high tide for the night.
From "Tiger Boy" by Mitali Perkins
The software calculates how much material would vaporize across different parts of the asteroid's surface and displays the results as a heat map.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 8, 2026
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
Richard Baldwin of Switzerland’s IMD Business School calculates that China’s manufacturing output climbed by $13.9 trillion between 2008 and 2024, while America’s grew by $2.8 trillion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
The Internal Revenue Service calculates tax due on your Social Security based on your “combined income,” which consists of your adjusted gross income, tax-exempt interest, and half of your annual Social Security benefits.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
"Actually"—Fifi calculates by lifting her fingers one by one from the baby's back, then patting them down—"it was the fourth night. But I knew the minute I saw him."
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
He also ordered at that time the claimants should make an initial payment of £9.54m while the final total was calculated.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
We then calculated the returns this home buyer would have received after accounting for federal, state and local taxes in both options.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
When the researchers extended their findings to estimate the nationwide impact, they calculated that permanent daylight saving time would create at least 2 billion more trips to school before sunrise compared with the current system.
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
After delivering a brief lecture on the vagaries of grammar and syntax, calculated to irritate Burr, Hamilton went on the offensive.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Imagine calculating the shortest route between two neighborhoods in the Mumbai suburbs.
From Science Daily ● 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
By calculating how much oxygen was needed to balance the other elements, along with the oxygen already contained in water and carbon dioxide, the scientists could estimate how much remained unaccounted for.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
Dave Nadig of ETF.com did the math by calculating different fund companies’ revenue per dollar of assets under management.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
If he’d been manipulating Bob into making that choice...well, then, Annabeth was stunned that Percy could be so calculating.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
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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.
