assess

American  

[uh-ses] / əˈsɛs /

verb (used with object)

assesses, present (3rd person singular) assessed, past participle, past assessing present participle

1. to estimate officially the value of (property, income, etc.) as a basis for taxation.

2. to fix or determine the amount of (damages, a tax, a fine, etc.).

   The hurricane damage was assessed at six million dollars.

   Synonyms:

   adjust, appraise

3. to impose a tax or other charge on.

4. to estimate or judge the value, character, etc., of; evaluate.

   to assess one's efforts.

   Synonyms:

   appraise

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assess British  

/ əˈsɛs /

verb

1. to judge the worth, importance, etc, of; evaluate

2. (foll by at) to estimate the value of (income, property, etc) for taxation purposes

   the estate was assessed at three thousand pounds

3. to determine the amount of (a fine, tax, damages, etc)

4. to impose a tax, fine, etc, on (a person or property)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• assessable
  adjective
• unassessable
  adjective
• unassessed
  adjective
• well-assessed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• assessing
  present
• assessed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• assess
  simple
• assesses
  simple
• have assessed
  perfect
• has assessed
  perfect
• am assessing
  progressive
• are assessing
  progressive
• is assessing
  progressive
• have been assessing
  perfect progressive
• has been assessing
  perfect progressive

Past

• assessed
  simple
• had assessed
  perfect
• was assessing
  progressive
• were assessing
  progressive
• had been assessing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will assess
  simple
• will have assessed
  perfect
• will be assessing
  progressive
• will have been assessing
  perfect progressive

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."

Example Sentences

They also assess the wild Supreme Court term of 2025–2026, which featured 58 argued cases, a steady stream of shadow-docket orders, and a bizarre, accidental “retirement” announcement.

From Slate • Jul. 2, 2026

Still, policymakers are expected to remain cautious as they assess whether recent energy-driven price pressures prove temporary or have longer-lasting price effects.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026

Environmental Protection Agency deployed air monitors to assess particulate matter, airborne toxic metals and other harmful compounds during the early days of the blaze.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026

Rodríguez has announced a commission to assess the damage.

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2026

My mother went over to school to personally lay eyes on the kid, wanting to assess what kind of threat he posed.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• appraise
• check
• determine
• estimate
• fix
• gauge
• judge
• weigh