formulate

American  

[fawr-myuh-leyt] / ˈfɔr myəˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

formulated, formulating

1. to express in precise form; state definitely or systematically.

   He finds it extremely difficult to formulate his new theory.

   Synonyms:

   specify , define , compose , frame , articulate

2. to devise or develop, as a method, system, etc.

3. to reduce to or express in a formula.

---

formulate British  

/ ˈfɔːmjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to put into or express in systematic terms; express in or as if in a formula

2. to devise

---

Other Word Forms

• formulable adjective
• formulation noun
• formulator noun
• nonformulation noun
• preformulate verb (used with object)
• preformulation noun
• unformulated adjective
• well-formulated adjective

Etymology

Origin of formulate

First recorded in 1855–60; formul(a) + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

The Let's Talk Money course will look at topics such as formulating a budget and using online price comparison tools.

From BBC

Eighty percent of men shopping for skin care are looking for products that are formulated for them.

From The Wall Street Journal

It emerged toward the end of the summer, long after health officials had already determined how to formulate this fall’s flu vaccine, a decision that had to be made in February.

From Los Angeles Times

"We've got a little bit of that early rehab to go through to formulate where he may plug into the series, but we expect him to take some part in the series."

From Barron's

But female guests don’t have their phones or any other resources that might help them formulate informed responses or fact-check Atlas’s dubious statistics.

From Salon

Related Words

• codify
• define
• develop
• devise
• draft
• draw up
• forge
• map
• prepare
• work out