determine
verb (used with object)
to conclude or ascertain, as after reasoning, observation, etc.
was determining
-
past progressiveof determine.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
The big challenge in making CEMs work, Shashua said, was determining how to verify the code.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
The challenge was determining exactly where the immune cells inside the brain had originated.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026
In January 2024, Johnson was "determining a path forward" for the plaque, according to a spokesperson speaking with Roll Call.
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2025
The most difficult task was determining that he was driven by hate, as the Department of Justice alleged, Dee Elder, a transgender woman from Aiken, South Carolina, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 26, 2024
One of the first tasks assigned to the new technique was determining the age of the Clovis culture.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
