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
- determinedly adverb
- determinedness noun
- postdetermined adjective
- undetermined adjective
Etymology
Origin of determined
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.
International law permits attacks on energy plants and other ostensibly civilian targets only if determined that they primarily support military activity.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
How his season is viewed will ultimately be determined by the level of collective success Arsenal have by the end of the season.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
“It’s notable that these bonuses and tips will be largely out of baristas’ control, relying on customer tipping and store performance metrics as determined by Starbucks management.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026
District Judge Amir Ali determined in his ruling issued Monday that Donner failed to meet the company rules and that his conduct was not protected by the District of Columbia’s sick leave law.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
Dr. Crowchild’s face darkens as she listens, but I keep going, determined to finish what I need to say.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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.
