puzzle out

1. Clarify or solve something, as in It took him a while to puzzle out the significance of the statement. [Late 1700s]

Example Sentences

Trying to puzzle out what he “really” meant, as opposed to what he actually said, will get you nowhere.

From Salon

In the meantime, scientists are still puzzling out the physics behind such an icy ocean that could harbor life.

From Salon

This is difficult to puzzle out because, as mentioned, dark matter does not interact with light and it does not seem to decay over time — but it does have gravity.

From Salon

Seeing and being seen in red California sends a message to fellow Democrats as they puzzle out their way forward.

From Los Angeles Times

"It was a pleasure to puzzle out the findings of the study together by uniting the team's expertise in data analysis and cell biology," said Tobias Gerber, another of the study's lead authors.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• agree 
• answer 
• clear up 
• conclude 
• deal with 
• decide 
• determine 
• fix 
• iron out 
• propose 
• settle 
• solve 
• undertake 
• work out