DictionaryAI

determine

verb
Saydi-TUR-min/dɪˈtɝmɪn//dɪˈtɜː(ɹ).mɪn/

Formsdetermines, determining, determined

7 meanings of determine

Practice

  1. 1
    find outverbtransitive
    To find out something for sure by checking, testing, or working it out.

    Like a detective using clues to find out exactly what happened.

    The doctor ran tests to determine what was making her sick.

    Scientists determined the age of the bones by testing them.

    UsageOften followed by what, how or whether: determine what caused it.

    Similarestablish, ascertain, discover, identify, find

  2. 2
    controlverbtransitive
    To decide or control what something will be like.

    The weather will determine what we wear tomorrow.

    Your daily habits determine how healthy you feel.

    UsagePeople often say something is determined by something else.

    Similardictate, govern, shape, control, regulate

    Note
  3. 3
    make up mindverbtransitive or intransitive
    To decide firmly to do something, or to make someone decide to do it.

    She determined to finish the race, no matter how tired she felt.

    Her mother's kind words helped determine her to finish school.

    UsagePeople more often say decide to or be determined to.

  4. 4
    settle (dispute)verbtransitive
    To settle a question or dispute by making a decision, especially an official one.

    The judge will determine who gets the house.

    A vote determined which plan the club would follow.

    Similardecide, settle, resolve, adjudicate, judge

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    set limitsverbtransitive
    To set the limits or edges of something.

    Fences determine where one yard ends and the next begins.

    The river determines the eastern edge of the park.

    Similardefine, fix, mark, demarcate, delimit

    Note
  2. 6
    verb
    To make a general idea more exact by adding a detail that limits it.
  3. 7
    verb
    To end, or to bring something to an end.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of determine apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Latin 'determinare', meaning 'to limit or fix', made from 'de' and 'terminus', meaning 'bound or end'. English got it through Old French.

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 4 facts