calculate
Americanverb (used with object)
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calculates,
present (3rd person singular)
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calculated,
past participle, past
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calculating
present participle
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to determine or ascertain by mathematical methods; compute.
to calculate the velocity of light.
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to determine by reasoning, common sense, or practical experience; estimate; evaluate; gauge.
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to make suitable or fit for a purpose; adapt (usually used passively and with an infinitive).
His remarks were calculated to inspire our confidence.
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Chiefly Northern U.S.
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to think; guess.
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to intend; plan.
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verb (used without object)
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calculates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
calculated,
past participle, past
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calculating
present participle
-
to make a computation or form an estimate.
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to count or rely (usually followed by on orupon ).
They calculated on good weather.
verb
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to solve (one or more problems) by a mathematical procedure; compute
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(tr; may take a clause as object) to determine beforehand by judgment, reasoning, etc; estimate
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(tr; usually passive) to design specifically; aim
the car was calculated to appeal to women
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(intr; foll by on or upon) to depend; rely
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dialect (tr; may take a clause as object)
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to suppose; think
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to intend (to do something)
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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calculatesimple
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calculatessimple
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have calculatedperfect
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has calculatedperfect
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am calculatingprogressive
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are calculatingprogressive
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is calculatingprogressive
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have been calculatingperfect progressive
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has been calculatingperfect progressive
Past
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calculatedsimple
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had calculatedperfect
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was calculatingprogressive
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were calculatingprogressive
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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
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Pi Day Vocabulary
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"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry
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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.
See Examples For:
The software would then calculate the next guess expected to provide the most information.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 12, 2026
To calculate the taxable-equivalent yield for the 10-year Treasury note, divide its yield by 1 minus the combined city and state income-tax rate.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
To compare it with a high-quality corporate bond or a bank CD, we need to calculate the bond’s taxable-equivalent yield.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
Actuarial analysis, consideration of historical performance and precedent, trend analysis, Monte Carlo scenario modeling and the like help determine probabilities so an investor can calculate the “excess” return required to compensate for a risk.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
This time, before your mind can calculate the answer it will wander away down the street with the child, dancing to the African music that has gone away and come home changed.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Both Heathrow and Gatwick, for example, have moved away from mandating minimum distances between incoming aircraft in favour of a system which continually calculates spacing times based on wind speeds and aircraft types.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
At the $25 million transaction price in Capstone shares, Hutchison calculates that Capstone paid less than a cent per pound for the copper resources alone, excluding by-product credits.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
SpaceX calculates the probability that its satellites may draw near spacecraft or other objects.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026
The ACA Marketplace calculates her premium based on her age, location, household size and expected household income for the entire calendar year, not necessarily her own individual income.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026
I wonder how she calculates her pace—with her watch or with her brain.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
But it is calculated based largely on the inflation data published this week, which allows economists and Fed officials to proceed based on well-founded estimates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
In one group with more than 24,000 members, users weighed travelling to neighbouring Armenia, Iraq or Turkey, while others calculated the mounting costs.
From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026
The researchers calculated a very low carrier density of approximately 1016 per cubic centimeter.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 5, 2026
It makes it even more important for clubs to generate high transfer fees, to get a higher profit average for SCR - which itself is calculated over one season.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
“Not very. I’ve calculated the cost, and I’ll pay for it myself.”
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
“We don’t use that number as a form of calculating how we compensate, because it can be fairly arbitrary,” Tiley said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Rubner said downside protection is inexpensive, calculating that demand for market protection is in the bottom first percentile of the entire year.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
You can test how “nicely” a function moves everything around in space by calculating something called the Jacobian determinant.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 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
I’m still calculating the profit when the outboard starts to sputter.
From "The Young Man and the Sea" by Rodman Philbrick
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.
