determine
/di'tə:min/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: 1. To find out or establish something precisely through investigation or calculation: To ascertain or conclude something with certainty after examination, research, or effort. 2. To settle or decide something conclusively: To bring a matter to a final decision or resolution. 3. To fix or define the nature, scope, or limits of something: To establish the essential qualities, boundaries, or parameters of something. 4. To be the decisive factor in causing a particular outcome: To have a controlling influence on the course, nature, or result of something. 5. To make a firm decision: To resolve to do something.
Usage Examples
- Finding out precisely:
- The detective tried to determine the exact time of the incident.
- Scientists will determine the chemical composition of the sample.
- Settling conclusively:
- The judge will determine the outcome of the case.
- Let's determine the rules before we start the game.
- Fixing or defining:
- The architect's plan will determine the shape of the building.
- The contract determines the responsibilities of each party.
- Being the decisive factor:
- Genetics can determine a person's eye color.
- Your performance today will determine whether you get the promotion.
- Making a firm decision:
- She determined to finish the project by Friday. (More formal/literary)
Advanced Usage
- "To be determined by": To be caused or decided by a specific factor.
- The success of the mission was determined by careful planning.
- "Determine that...": To conclude or establish a fact through a process.
- The investigation determined that the fire was accidental.
Variants and Related Words
- Determination (n): 1. The quality of being resolute. 2. The process of establishing something exactly.
- She showed great determination to succeed.
- The determination of the cause of death took several weeks.
- Determined (adj): Having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it.
- He was determined to win.
- Determiner (n): In grammar, a word (like "a," "the," "this") that precedes and modifies a noun.
- Determinant (n/adj): A factor that decisively affects the nature or outcome of something.
- Education is a key determinant of future earnings.
Synonyms
- Ascertain: To find out for certain.
- Establish: To set up or prove something on a firm basis.
- Decide: To make a choice or reach a conclusion.
- Settle: To resolve or bring to an end.
- Dictate: To control or command authoritatively.
- Resolve: To decide firmly on a course of action.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Determine on/upon (something): To decide firmly on something. (Formal/Literary)
- They determined upon a course of action.
Related Idioms
- A determining factor: The most important element that decides an outcome.
- Cost was the determining factor in our choice.
Verb
- find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
- I want to see whether she speaks French
- See whether it works
- find out if he speaks Russian
- Check whether the train leaves on time
- settle conclusively; come to terms
- We finally settled the argument
- fix in scope; fix the boundaries of
- the tree determines the border of the property
- reach, make, or come to a decision about something
- We finally decided after lengthy deliberations
- decide upon or fix definitely
- fix the variables
- specify the parameters
- fix conclusively or authoritatively
- set the rules
- shape or influence; give direction to
- experience often determines ability
- mold public opinion
- establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
- find the product of two numbers
- The physicist who found the elusive particle won the Nobel Prize