determine

verb de·ter·mine \ di-ˈtər-mən , dē- \

Updated on: 9 Dec 2017

Definition of determine

determined; determining

transitive verb

1 a : to fix conclusively or authoritatively

determine national policy

b law : to decide by judicial sentence

determine a plea

c : to settle or decide by choice of alternatives or possibilities

trying to determine the best time to go

d : resolve

she determined to do better

2 a : to fix the form, position, or character of beforehand : ordain

two points determine a straight line

the extent to which genetics determines one's personality

b : to bring about as a result : regulate

demand determines the price

3 a : to fix the boundaries of

b : to limit in extent or scope

c : to put or set an end to : terminate

determine an estate

4 : to find out or come to a decision about by investigation, reasoning, or calculation

determine the answer to the problem

determine a position at sea

5 biology : to bring about the determination (see determination 7) of

determine the fate of a cell

intransitive verb

1 : to come to a decision

had determined on becoming a doctor

2 : to come to an end or become void

See determine defined for English-language learners

See determine defined for kids

Examples of determine in a Sentence

The new policy will be determined by a special committee.
The demand for a product determines its price.
He believes that one's personality is determined mostly by genetics.
An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
They are unable to accurately determine the ship's position at this time.
Scholars have determined that the book was written in the late 16th century.
I am trying to determine what happened and when.
They are determining if they should stay.
They determined to leave immediately.

Recent Examples of determine from the Web

The analyses used economics to determine the cost effectiveness of therapy provided by lay counselors.

— joanne silberner, Discover Magazine, "A Global State of Mind," 13 Nov. 2017
And after really big floods, the program must rely on armies of subcontractors to determine payments, baffling and infuriating policyholders, like Mr. Clutter, who cannot figure out who is opposing their claims, or why.

— mary williams walsh, New York Times, "A Broke, and Broken, Flood Insurance Program," 4 Nov. 2017
Read on to determine if your friendship has reached its tipping point.

— jessica ariel wendroff, Teen Vogue, "5 Signs It's Time to Break Up With Your BFF," 2 Nov. 2017
Prosecutors, likely from another county, will have to determine whether Alfonso acted properly in discharging his service firearm.

— david ovalle, miamiherald, "‘He was a hero.’ State attorney’s investigator saves CVS employees held at gunpoint," 1 Nov. 2017
The site analyzed home and property attributes in the cities to determine which was most conducive to enduring nuclear fallout.

— max londberg, kansascity, "Your best chance to survive nuclear apocalypse is to live in KC, Realtors say," 31 Oct. 2017
One measure by which to determine if this soul-searching will lead to lasting change concerns second chances and rehabilitation, and thus far the available evidence is not encouraging.

— sarah ellison, The Hive, "O’Reilly, “Shitty Media Men,” and the Harassment Double Standard," 27 Oct. 2017
The accused are men who help to determine what art gets seen and appreciated — and, crucially, paid for.

— rebecca traister, The Cut, "Our National Narratives Are Still Being Shaped by Lecherous, Powerful Men," 27 Oct. 2017
With the battery pack switched to the On position, hold the two diode wires to the electrical leads to determine the correct orientation to make the diode illuminate.

— james schadewald, Popular Mechanics, "How to Make a Clip-On Book Light," 25 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'determine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of determine

Middle English, from Anglo-French determiner, from Latin determinare, from de- + terminare to limit, from terminus boundary, limit — more at ¹term

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

determine Synonyms

Synonyms

adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, decide, judge, referee, rule (on), settle, umpire

Antonyms

miss, overlook, pass over

Related Words

consider, deem, deliberate, hear, ponder, weigh; size up; mediate, moderate, negotiate; prosecute, try; find (for or against); conclude, resolve; redetermine, rejudge

Near Antonyms

equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, skirt

Synonym Discussion of determine

decide, determine, settle, rule, resolve mean to come or cause to come to a conclusion. decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.

- she decided to sell her house

determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.

- determined the cause of the problem

settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty.

- the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy

rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.

- the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something.

- he resolved to quit smoking

discover, ascertain, determine, unearth, learn mean to find out what one did not previously know. discover may apply to something requiring exploration or investigation or to a chance encounter.

- discovered the source of the river

ascertain implies effort to find the facts or the truth proceeding from awareness of ignorance or uncertainty.

- attempts to ascertain the population of the region

determine emphasizes the intent to establish the facts definitely or precisely.

- unable to determine the origin of the word

unearth implies bringing to light something forgotten or hidden.

- unearth old records

learn may imply acquiring knowledge with little effort or conscious intention (as by simply being told) or it may imply study and practice.

- I learned her name only today
- learning Greek

DETERMINE Defined for English Language Learners

determine

verb

Definition of determine for English Language Learners

: to officially decide (something) especially because of evidence or facts : to establish (something) exactly or with authority
: to be the cause of or reason for (something)
: to learn or find out (something) by getting information

DETERMINE Defined for Kids

determine

verb de·ter·mine \ di-ˈtər-mən \

Definition of determine for Students

determined; determining

1 : to come to a decision

They determined to leave immediately.

2 : to learn or find out exactly

Police determined the cause of the accident.

3 : to be the cause of or reason for

Demand determines the price of a product.

4 : to fix exactly and with certainty

Yes, it was settled; his career was determined.
—Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer

Word Root of determine

The Latin word terminus, meaning “boundary” or “limit,” gives us the root termin or term. Words from the Latin terminus have something to do with boundaries or limits. A term is a limited period of time during which something, such as school, occurs or exists. To determine is to set exact boundaries for something. To terminate, or cause to end, is to take to a boundary or limit.