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View synonyms for

determine

[ dih-tur-min ]

verb (used with object)

determined, determining.
  1. to conclude or ascertain, as after reasoning, observation, etc.

    Synonyms:

  2. to settle or decide (a dispute, question, etc.) by an authoritative or conclusive decision.

    Synonyms: ,

  3. to cause, affect, or control; fix or decide causally:

    Demand for a product usually determines supply.

    Synonyms:

  4. to give direction or tendency to; impel.

    Synonyms: , ,

  5. Geometry. to fix the position of.
  6. Logic. to limit (a notion) by adding differentiating characteristics.
  7. Chiefly Law. to put an end to; terminate.
  8. to lead or bring (a person) to a decision.
  9. to decide upon.


verb (used without object)

determined, determining.
  1. to come to a decision or resolution; decide.
  2. Chiefly Law. to come to an end.

determine

/ ɪˈɜːɪ /

verb

  1. to settle or decide (an argument, question, etc) conclusively, as by referring to an authority
  2. tr to ascertain or conclude, esp after observation or consideration
  3. tr to shape or influence; give direction to

    experience often determines ability

  4. tr to fix in scope, extent, variety, etc

    the river determined the edge of the property

  5. to make or cause to make a decision

    he determined never to marry

  6. tr logic to define or limit (a notion) by adding or requiring certain features or characteristics
  7. tr geometry to fix or specify the position, form, or configuration of

    two points determine a line

  8. law to come or bring to an end, as an estate or interest in land
  9. tr to decide (a legal action or dispute)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • t··ٱmԱ verb (used with object) interdetermined interdetermining
  • ܲȴ-·ٱmԱ verb quasidetermined quasidetermining
  • d·ٱmԱ verb redetermined redetermining
  • ܲd·ٱm·Բ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of determine1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French determiner, from Latin ŧٱ “to mark out and fix boundaries,” equivalent to ŧ- prefix indicating separation + ٱ “to bound, limit”; de-, terminate
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Word History and Origins

Origin of determine1

C14: from Old French determiner, from Latin ŧٱ to set boundaries to, from de- + ٱ to limit; see terminate
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Idioms and Phrases

see bound and determined .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Authorities are examining the aircraft's black box data recorder to determine the cause of the crash.

From

The Huntington Park City Council has chosen a local civil service commissioner to replace former Councilmember Esmeralda Castillo, whose seat was declared vacant after a probe determined she was not living in the city.

From

Liverpool have hardly been that sharp of late but they will be determined to win the title in front of their own fans for the first time in 35 years.

From

The OC Health Care Agency encourages anyone who made physical contact with the bat — or saw anyone else do so — to inform its Disease Control Division to determine the risk of infection.

From

Basick and other professors have also raised concerns that hiring a non-legally trained psychometrist to develop questions with AI, as well as determine whether the questions are valid and reliable, represents a conflict of interest.

From

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More About Determine

does determine mean?

Determine means to conclude, as after reasoning or observing, as in After considering all my options, I’ve determined which college I want to attend.

Generally, to determine something is to come to a conclusive decision from a place of authority on the subject.

Determine can also mean to cause or control, as in How much homework my teacher assigns will determine whether I can go to the game tonight.

Determine is also used to mean to give direction to, as a boss might determine what tasks their employees will do.

Example: I have determined that the cause of death was cardiac arrest.

Where does determine come from?

The first records of the term determine come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Latin ŧٱ, meaning “to mark out and fix boundaries.”

In legal terms, to determine something is to bring it to an end. The term is normally used at the end of a case or a lawsuit and implies the final conclusion of the conflict between parties. When the court determines something, it can rarely be disputed, except by going through the appeals process or opening a new case.

Did you know … ?

are some other forms related to determine?

are some synonyms for determine?

are some words that share a root or word element with determine?

are some words that often get used in discussing determine?

How is determine used in real life?

Determine is commonly used to talk about decisions being made.

Try using determine!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for determine?

A. elect
B. ignore
C. fix
D. resolve

When To Use

are other ways to say determine?

To determine is to conclude or ascertain something, as after reasoning or observation. How is determine different from resolve and decide? Learn more on .

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.

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