determined
Americanadjective
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resolute; staunch.
the determined defenders of the Alamo.
- Synonyms:
- unfaltering, inflexible
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decided; settled; resolved.
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Grammar. (of a phonetic feature) predictable from its surrounding context.
adjective
Usage
What does determined mean? Determined means firmly set in one’s decision or course of action, especially with the aim of achieving a particular goal. Someone who’s determined to do something is extremely motivated and unlikely to quit or change their mind. Someone who’s determined in general has a very strong desire to achieve their goals. Someone who’s determined in this way is said to be showing determination—the quality of being firm in one’s purpose. Determined is also the past tense form of the verb determine, meaning to decide or settle in an authoritative way or conclude after observation. The term undetermined uses this sense of the word. Something that’s undetermined has not been conclusively decided or settled. (It’s not used to describe someone who’s not particularly motivated.)Example: I am absolutely determined to finish this race, even if I have to crawl across the finish line.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of determined
Explanation
Olympic athletes are some of the most determined people you're going to meet. At that level, they've got to be driven to succeed. Otherwise, their opponents will surely beat them. If you want to reach your goal, you must be determined to do so. To be determined is to be motivated, driven, or really focused on the task at hand — and that can be something as big as winning a prize or as small as fixing a squeaky door. No matter the task, the folks who get the job done are almost always the most determined. Determined can also mean "decided." For instance, a judge can determine what the sentence will be. If that sentence is predetermined, then it's already been decided.
Vocabulary lists containing determined
Number the Stars
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List 4
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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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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.
Daisy's father says his daughter is determined not to be defined by what happened.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
Pratt had been shopping the idea of a lifeguard movie and was determined to stay relevant, according to his memoir.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
For now, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi seems determined to shield the public from feeling too much of a squeeze, using subsidies to keep fuel prices low.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
Researchers also determined that at least eight individuals were buried in the Heaning Wood Bone Cave over several different prehistoric periods.
From Science Daily • May 20, 2026
Showing my temper had only made him more determined, and the stubborn clench of his jaw hadn’t relaxed.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
