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Synonyms

figure out

British  

verb

  1. to calculate or reckon

  2. to understand

"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
figure out Idioms  

  1. Discover or determine, as in Let's figure out a way to help . [Early 1900s]

  2. Solve or decipher, as in Can you figure out this puzzle? [Early 1800s]

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.

“We’re not ready to come to you with a request; we’re still working on it. We’re working through to figure out what’s needed in this fiscal year versus next fiscal year,” Vought said.

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2026

Brennan sensed an opportunity to bring Haftar together with Abdul Salam Al-Zoubi, the deputy defense minister in the Tripoli government, to figure out a way forward.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

I know it was sunny and warm, but I can’t figure out the season in L.A. from that.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Five months later, I’m still trying to figure out how I was so wrong.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026

I just stood there with my mouth open, looking things over, and trying to figure out what was going on.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

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.