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.
These days, I teach a graduate-level class at American University and recently mentioned the famous August 2001 President’s Daily Brief titled “Bin Ladin Determined to Strike in US.”
From Slate • Apr. 21, 2026
Determined to have the bodies transferred, Abdullah approached the authorities.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026
Determined to survive, Iran might initially hunker down or seek to draw out any conflict.
From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026
Determined to complete a full recovery from the issue, Draper took the decision to miss the Australian Open in January before making his return for Great Britain on 5 February.
From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026
Determined, I get on my hands and knees, and crawl through the brown forest of legs up to the front.
From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung
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.
