Determine — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Determine (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)

   "a three-member panel will determine the case"

   similar: adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, decide, judge, referee, rule (on), settle, umpire
   related: consider, deem, deliberate, hear, ponder, weigh, size up, mediate, moderate, negotiate, prosecute, try, find (for or against), conclude, resolve, redetermine, rejudge
   near: equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, skirt

2. to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration

   "trying to determine which direction we were facing"

   similar: choose, conclude, decide, figure, name, opt, resolve, settle (on or upon)
   related: decree, rule, cull, elect, handpick, pick, prefer, select, single (out), adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, find, judge, referee, rule (on), umpire, chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, debate, deliberate, entertain, meditate, mull (over), ponder, question, ruminate, study, think (about or over), weigh
   near: abstain, decline, refuse, reject, turn down, delay, halt, hesitate, stall, temporize, shilly-shally, vacillate, waffle, waver

3. to come upon after searching, study, or effort

   "we failed to determine the answer to the riddle"

   similar: ascertain, descry, detect, dig out, dig up, discover, dredge (up), ferret (out), find, find out, get, hit (on or upon), hunt (down or up), learn, locate, nose out, root (out), rout (out), rummage, run down, scare up, scout (up), track (down), turn up
   related: espy, sight, spot, look for, search (for or out), seek
   opposite: miss, overlook, pass over
   near: lose, mislay, misplace, misset

4. to come to an end

   "your participation in the savings plan determines with the termination of your employment here"

   similar: break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, dead-end, die, discontinue, elapse, end, expire, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up, wink (out), bite the dust
   related: desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from), give over (British), knock off, pack (up or in), break down, conk (out), cut out, stall, pause, stay, suspend, abate, peter (out), wind down
   opposite: continue, hang on, persist
   near: draw out, extend, prolong, protract

5. to make final, definite, or beyond dispute

   "your choice of college could determine the rest of your life"

   similar: clinch, decide, nail, settle
   related: demonstrate, establish, nail (down), prove, show, affirm, assure, ensure, insure, secure, define, specify, state, stipulate, clarify, clear (up), illuminate, conclude, end, finish
   near: confuse, muddle, muddy, unsettle