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determine

[ dih-tur-min ]

/ dɪˈtɜr mɪn /

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See synonyms for: determine / determined / determines / determining on Thesaurus.com

Definition of determine

verb (used with object), de·ter·mined, de·ter·min·ing.

to conclude or ascertain, as after reasoning, observation, etc.

to settle or decide (a dispute, question, etc.) by an authoritative or conclusive decision.

to cause, affect, or control; fix or decide causally: Demand for a product usually determines supply.

to give direction or tendency to; impel.

Geometry. to fix the position of.

Logic. to limit (a notion) by adding differentiating characteristics.

Chiefly Law. to put an end to; terminate.

to lead or bring (a person) to a decision.

to decide upon.

verb (used without object), de·ter·mined, de·ter·min·ing.

to come to a decision or resolution; decide.

Chiefly Law. to come to an end.

OTHER WORDS FOR determine

1 verify.

2 resolve, adjust.

3 influence.

4 induce, lead, incline.

See synonyms for determine on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

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Origin of determine

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French determiner, from Latin dētermināre “to mark out and fix boundaries,” equivalent to dē- prefix indicating separation + termināre “to bound, limit”; see de-, terminate

OTHER WORDS FROM determine

in·ter·de·ter·mine, verb (used with object), in·ter·de·ter·mined, in·ter·de·ter·min·ing.qua·si-de·ter·mine, verb, qua·si-de·ter·mined, qua·si-de·ter·min·ing.re·de·ter·mine, verb, re·de·ter·mined, re·de·ter·min·ing.un·de·ter·min·ing, adjective

Words nearby determine

determinant, determinate, determination, determinative, determinator, determine, determined, determiner, determinism, deterministic, deterred

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT DETERMINE

What does determine mean?

Determine means to conclude, as after reasoning or observing, as in After considering all my options, I’ve determined which college I want to attend.

Generally, to determine something is to come to a conclusive decision from a place of authority on the subject.

Determine can also mean to cause or control, as in How much homework my teacher assigns will determine whether I can go to the game tonight.

Determine is also used to mean to give direction to, as a boss might determine what tasks their employees will do.

Example: I have determined that the cause of death was cardiac arrest.

Where does determine come from?

The first records of the term determine come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Latin dētermināre, meaning “to mark out and fix boundaries.”

In legal terms, to determine something is to bring it to an end. The term is normally used at the end of a case or a lawsuit and implies the final conclusion of the conflict between parties. When the court determines something, it can rarely be disputed, except by going through the appeals process or opening a new case.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to determine?

determiner (noun)
determinism (noun)
redetermine (verb)
undetermined (adjective)

What are some synonyms for determine?

What are some words that share a root or word element with determine?

What are some words that often get used in discussing determine?

How is determine used in real life?

Determine is commonly used to talk about decisions being made.

i wanna believe the warriors draw straws in the locker room to determine who gets to drop the 50 piece that night

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) October 30, 2018

Blood aint thicker than water and time dont determine loyalty, character does

— Nav (@beatsbynav) November 1, 2018

Age shouldn't really determine anything

— Nash Grier (@Nashgrier) August 11, 2015

Try using determine!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for determine?

A. elect
B. ignore
C. fix
D. resolve

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say determine?

To determine is to conclude or ascertain something, as after reasoning or observation. How is determine different from resolve and decide? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.

How to use determine in a sentence

The NHL will also now be analyzing clusters of positive test samples with whole genomic sequencing to determine specific coronavirus strains.
NHL adds game-day rapid testing to coronavirus protocols|Samantha Pell|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
The preps-to-pros movement was shut down in 2005, after the league determined that getting a Kobe Bryant or LeBron James a little earlier wasn’t worth sending scouts to high school gymnasiums.
An NBA experiment lets draft prospects skip college, stay home and get paid to play|Michael Lee|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
After determining the spoon’s maker and pattern, she typed that information into the Google “shopping” tab for a second search.
Replacing pieces of flatware or china can be a challenge. Here’s how to track them down.|Laura Daily|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
The new charges could carry a maximum sentence of nearly 30 years, more if it’s determined Keller’s actions resulted in any injuries.
Grand jury beefs up charges against Olympian Klete Keller related to Capitol riot|Rick Maese|February 11, 2021|Washington Post

Trying to determine which bid will maximize your campaign goals without blowing through your budget can be a tough balancing act.
Smart Bidding: Five ways machine learning improves PPC advertising|Gabrielle Sadeh|February 10, 2021|Search Engine Watch
That strategy has been used in some cases to help determine GMO policy.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
The fear of violence should not determine what one does or does not say.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
That makes it incredibly difficult to determine the effects of airstrikes, for example.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War|Nancy A. Youssef|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Where the U.S. once depended on its own forces to determine who was military material, this time the Iraqis will decide.
Pentagon Insider on New Plan to Fight ISIS: ‘Of Course It’s Not Enough’|Nancy A. Youssef|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What does Bondi mean that clerks now should “determine how to proceed”?
The Back Alley, Low Blow-Ridden Fight to Stop Gay Marriage in Florida Is Finally Over|Jay Michaelson|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
How well they have merited that Degree of Confidence is left to the impartial World to determine.
Remarks on a Pamphlet Lately published by the Rev. Mr. Maskelyne,|John Harrison
Its first appearance is not possible to determine and will probably remain unknown.
Antonio Stradivari|Horace William Petherick
Twenty baskets of it were obtained by the said miners to assay and investigate its nature, and determine what it might be.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
It was with great disapprobation that he heard Napoleon accept Caulaincourt's advice, and determine to advance to Moscow.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
More generally the nature of the chattels conveyed determine largely the character of the description.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles

British Dictionary definitions for determine

determine

/ (dɪˈtɜːmɪn) /

verb

to settle or decide (an argument, question, etc) conclusively, as by referring to an authority

(tr) to ascertain or conclude, esp after observation or consideration

(tr) to shape or influence; give direction toexperience often determines ability

(tr) to fix in scope, extent, variety, etcthe river determined the edge of the property

to make or cause to make a decisionhe determined never to marry

(tr) logic to define or limit (a notion) by adding or requiring certain features or characteristics

(tr) geometry to fix or specify the position, form, or configuration oftwo points determine a line

mainly law to come or bring to an end, as an estate or interest in land

(tr) to decide (a legal action or dispute)

Word Origin for determine

C14: from Old French determiner, from Latin dētermināre to set boundaries to, from de- + termināre to limit; see terminate

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with determine

determine

see bound and determined.

determine

Definition of determine

OTHER WORDS FOR determine

Origin of determine

OTHER WORDS FROM determine

Words nearby determine

MORE ABOUT DETERMINE

What does determine mean?

Where does determine come from?

Did you know … ?

How is determine used in real life?

Try using determine!

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say determine?

Words related to determine

How to use determine in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for determine

Word Origin for determine

Other Idioms and Phrases with determine