assess
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to estimate officially the value of (property, income, etc.) as a basis for taxation.
-
to fix or determine the amount of (damages, a tax, a fine, etc.).
The hurricane damage was assessed at six million dollars.
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to impose a tax or other charge on.
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to estimate or judge the value, character, etc., of; evaluate.
to assess one's efforts.
- Synonyms:
- appraise
verb
-
to judge the worth, importance, etc, of; evaluate
-
(foll by at) to estimate the value of (income, property, etc) for taxation purposes
the estate was assessed at three thousand pounds
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to determine the amount of (a fine, tax, damages, etc)
-
to impose a tax, fine, etc, on (a person or property)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of assess
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English assessen, from Old French assesser, from Medieval Latin assessāre “to assess a tax,” derivative of Latin assessus “seated beside (a judge)” (past participle of assidēre ), equivalent to as- “toward” + sed- (stem of sedēre “to sit”) + -tus past participle suffix; see as-, sit 1
Explanation
Before you try to sell your car, you should ask an expert to assess its value — once you know what it's worth, it's easier to find a fair price. When you assess a matter, you make a judgment about it. The verb assess has the general meaning of determining the importance or value of something. It also has a few specialized uses having to do with amounts of money, such as fines, fees, and taxes. It can mean to set the value of property for purposes of taxation, or to charge a person or business a tax or fee. Assess comes from Anglo-French usage, and is ultimately derived from the Latin verb assidēre, "to sit as a judge."
Vocabulary lists containing assess
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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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.
In other words, cruise ships almost definitely pose a high risk for infection, but it’s hard to assess exactly what that risk looks like in practice.
From Slate • May 16, 2026
"The company continues to assess the earliest appropriate market window," Alary said in a statement to AFP.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
The advocates were generally happy with what they heard, while also pulling out calculators to assess whether Newsom owes still more to education.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
However, it said the provider had failed "to comply with its duties to assess and mitigate the risk of people in the UK encountering illegal content on its service".
From BBC • May 13, 2026
He would need a mirror to assess the entirety of the situation with his nose, but he was afraid that if he said as much, she’d go and rip one off the bathroom wall.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
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.
