determine

[dih-tur-min]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR determine ON THESAURUS.COM

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

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

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

Geometry. to fix the position of.

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

to give direction or tendency to; impel.

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.

Origin of determine

1325–75; Middle English determinen < Anglo-French, Old French determiner < Latin dētermināre, equivalent to dē- de- + termināre to bound, limit; see terminate

Related formsin·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

Synonyms for determine

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR determine ON THESAURUS.COM

1. resolve, adjust. 2. verify. 4. influence. 5. induce, lead, incline.

Synonym study

1. See decide.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for determine

resolve, regulate, complete, rule, detect, verify, learn, tell, see, ascertain, demonstrate, establish, check, elect, fix, control, impose, influence, shape, limit

Examples from the Web for determine

Contemporary Examples of determine

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
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
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
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
Can they determine that individual citizens should not have access to rights provided by the Constitution?
The Back Alley, Low Blow-Ridden Fight to Stop Gay Marriage in Florida Is Finally Over
Jay Michaelson
January 5, 2015

Historical Examples of determine

But if you determine as we would have you, and signify it to us, we shall not stand with you for a week or so.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
What real worth might lie under this sunny surface the future must determine.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
So far as he could determine, she: had not even sunk once beneath the surface.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
It is my duty, father, blindly to follow all you determine upon for me.
The Imaginary Invalid
Molire
And always he watched me, for what purpose I could not determine.
The Bacillus of Beauty
Harriet Stark

British Dictionary definitions for determine

determine

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

Word Origin and History for determine

mid-14c., "to come to an end," also "to settle, decide" (late 14c.), from Old French determiner (12c.) or directly from Latin determinare "to enclose, bound, set limits to," from de- "off" (see de-) + terminare "to mark the end or boundary," from terminus "end, limit" (see terminus). Sense of "coming to a firm decision" (to do something) is from mid-15c. Related: Determined; determining; determiner.

Idioms and Phrases with determine

determine

see bound and determined.