determination

noun

Saydi-tur-mi-NAY-shuhn/dɪˌtɝmɪˈneɪʃən/UK/dɪˌtɜːmɪˈneɪʃən/

10 meanings of determination

1
nouncountable or uncountable
A strong wish to keep going and finish something, even when it is hard.
Like a runner who keeps going even when their legs hurt.
Her determination helped her finish the race despite the pain.
It took real determination to keep studying every night after work.
Similarresolve, perseverance, persistence, tenacity, willpower
Oppositeirresolution, indecision, hesitancy, vacillation
Note
2
nouncountable
The act of measuring something exactly, such as its size or weight.
Like using a ruler to find out exactly how long something is.
The determination of the metal's weight took several careful tries.
Scientists made a precise determination of the room's temperature.
Similarmeasurement, calculation, assessment, quantification
Note
3
nouncountable
A firm decision reached after thinking carefully about something.
Like making up your mind and refusing to change it.
Her determination to leave the city surprised her whole family.
He made a quiet determination to never give up again.
Similarresolution, resolve, decision, intention, commitment
Note
4
nouncountable
An official decision that settles a legal case or dispute.
Like a referee's final call that ends an argument in a game.
The judge's determination ended the long dispute between the neighbors.
They are still waiting for the court's determination.
Similardecision, ruling, judgment, verdict, finding
5
nouncountable or uncountable
The act of explaining what an idea means by naming its main parts.
Like explaining what a chair is by naming the parts every chair has.
The determination of the concept began with listing its core parts.
Careful determination of each term made the whole theory easy to follow.
Similardefinition, characterization, specification
6
nouncountable or uncountable
A natural push or pull toward a certain goal or end.
Like a ball rolling downhill that keeps heading one way.
The plant's growth showed a determination toward the light.
The story has a determination toward a happy ending.
Similartendency, direction, inclination, drift, trend
7
nouncountable or uncountable
The act of adding a detail to an idea so it covers fewer things.
Like adding 'small' to 'dog' so it only means little dogs.
The determination of 'bird' by adding 'flightless' narrows it to a few species.
Each new determination made the category cover fewer animals.
Similarspecification, specialization
Oppositegeneralization
Note
8
nouncountable or uncountable
The act of working out which group a plant, animal, or mineral belongs to.
Like sorting an animal into the right family on a chart.
The determination of the beetle took the scientist nearly an hour.
Correct determination of the rock helped the class name it.
Similaridentification, classification
Note
9
nouncountable or uncountable
A flow or rush of something, like blood, to one part of the body.
Like water rushing all at once into one corner of a tank.
The doctor described a determination of blood to the head.
He felt a hot determination of blood to his face when he stood up.
Similarrush, flow
Note
10
nouncountable or uncountable
The act of bringing something to an end or to its limit.
Like the last day of a contract, when it stops being in force.
The determination of the lease left the tenant looking for a new home.
They argued about the determination of his rights to the land.
Similartermination, expiry, expiration, end, cessation
Oppositecommencement, inception, creation, beginning
Note

Practice

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Origin

It came from Latin, through Old French and Middle English. It is 'determine' plus '-ation'.