figure out
Britishverb
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to calculate or reckon
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to understand
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Discover or determine, as in Let's figure out a way to help . [Early 1900s]
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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.
Another issue: No one can figure out how to value it.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
Yet the biggest thing to remember, economists say, is that neither the sentiment nor confidence survey is a reliable tool to figure out how much Americans are going to spend.
From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026
“I would like to be the person who can help other people understand it better or figure out how it fits into their day-to-day,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
Edwards needs to figure out how to get to her to convert starts if England are to be serious challengers in the World Cup.
From BBC • May 25, 2026
“She helped me figure out a malfunctioning sprinkler system last fall. Then I helped her change a lightbulb she couldn’t reach.”
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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.
