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

• unassessable
  adjective
• well-assessed
  adjective
• assessable
  adjective
• overassess
  verb (used with object)
• reassess
  verb (used with object)
• unassessed
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have assessed
  perfect
• has assessed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been assessing
  perfect progressive
• is assessing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been assessing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• assesses
  singular 3rd person
• are assessing
  progressive
• assessing
  participle
• am assessing
  progressive 1st person singular

Past

• had assessed
  perfect
• was assessing
  progressive singular
• assessed
  participle
• had been assessing
  perfect progressive
• were assessing
  progressive plural
• assessed
  simple

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

"This is one of the first studies specifically designed to assess these interventions for cancer-related cognitive impairment during chemotherapy in patients with multiple diseases using both performance-based cognitive assessments and patient-reported outcomes."

From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026

This shows you your financial account history but does not give you a credit score, which is the risk assessment that lenders use to assess your chances of defaulting.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

"I spoke to the guys doing the job a couple of days ago and they still hadn't dug down deep enough to fully assess it but they're talking three weeks and possibly longer," he said.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

The seven OPEC+ nations said they would continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions, and reaffirmed their “full flexibility to increase, pause or reverse.”

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

And so before he sent in the paratroopers, President Johnson sent in Cyrus Vance to assess the situation.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Related Words

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