calculate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
calculates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
calculated,
past participle, past
-
calculating
present participle
-
to determine or ascertain by mathematical methods; compute.
to calculate the velocity of light.
-
to determine by reasoning, common sense, or practical experience; estimate; evaluate; gauge.
-
to make suitable or fit for a purpose; adapt (usually used passively and with an infinitive).
His remarks were calculated to inspire our confidence.
-
Chiefly Northern U.S.
-
to think; guess.
-
to intend; plan.
-
verb (used without object)
-
calculates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
calculated,
past participle, past
-
calculating
present participle
-
to make a computation or form an estimate.
-
to count or rely (usually followed by on orupon ).
They calculated on good weather.
verb
-
to solve (one or more problems) by a mathematical procedure; compute
-
(tr; may take a clause as object) to determine beforehand by judgment, reasoning, etc; estimate
-
(tr; usually passive) to design specifically; aim
the car was calculated to appeal to women
-
(intr; foll by on or upon) to depend; rely
-
dialect (tr; may take a clause as object)
-
to suppose; think
-
to intend (to do something)
-
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
calculatesimple
-
calculatessimple
-
have calculatedperfect
-
has calculatedperfect
-
am calculatingprogressive
-
are calculatingprogressive
-
is calculatingprogressive
-
have been calculatingperfect progressive
-
has been calculatingperfect progressive
Past
-
calculatedsimple
-
had calculatedperfect
-
was calculatingprogressive
-
were calculatingprogressive
-
had been calculatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of calculate
First recorded in 1560–70; from Late Latin calculātus “reckoned,” past participle of calculāre “to reckon,” derivative of calculus “pebble”; see calculus
Explanation
To calculate is to compute, by figuring out a mathematical equation or a situation. You can calculate your monthly student loan payments, or calculate the risk of not paying them on time. Calculate derives from the Latin word for "count." When you calculate, you either count something up or calculate on something happening. You might be able to calculate the answer to a simple equation in your head but need a calculator to figure out a more complex problem. And when someone is calculating, they are scheming or conniving, always figuring out the fastest way to get ahead.
Vocabulary lists containing calculate
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Pi Day Vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Temperatures in the area of the ocean used to calculate El Niño were already 2.41 degrees above baseline.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Some calculate the metric aggressively to project strength, while others avoid citing a single headline figure to prevent conflating cash with credit lines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
For the future, the FIA is working on an update that would calculate expected car position in the case of an irregular refresh rate from the F1 timing system.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
The app then compares those estimates with nutrition databases to calculate calories and other nutrients.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
Trevor pulled out his phone and opened the map app, so we could calculate our route.
From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks
Freddie Mac calculates the average rate from the thousands of loan applications submitted to it, while Mortgage News Daily data surveys mortgage lenders.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
Consider the American League, where Ablin calculates that each additional dollar spent by teams got them fewer wins.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Guessing future winners in AI and automotive intelligence will be tough, though, as he calculates the likelihood of success for those companies of about 1% to 5%.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
But if that $3 million account is in tax-deferred accounts, they will together need to take a $113,208 RMD when they reach age 73 and will owe $28,951 in taxes, Reichenstein calculates.
From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026
I wonder how she calculates her pace—with her watch or with her brain.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
The documents included no explanation of how that number was calculated.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
Miller said Bianco’s claims were part of a calculated media campaign that included text messages, media interviews and news conferences.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
In 2020, I calculated that repealing the firewall would lead to $2.2 trillion in higher subsidy spending over a decade for the estimated 24 million people who would switch from employer coverage to the exchanges.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
An investment Substack, Maverick Equity Research, calculated that most of the Berkshire purchases in the second quarter were done at 1.4 times book value.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
I calculated two sample orbits—one with a rocket launching from the east, and the other from the west.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
Consider the above chart, which plots three different ways of calculating the CPI:
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
The state director of finance is responsible for calculating the adjusted minimum wage on or before Aug. 1 each year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
Only after calculating the probability to be zero did he conduct his experiment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
In an unusually detailed sentencing statement, judge O'Grady noted that calculating punishment parts is "with good reason" much misunderstood by victims and members of the public.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
I was calculating the number of hours left in the school year. 1,160.
From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty
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.
