Definition

Verb: 1. To solve or understand something through thinking: To find an answer, solution, or explanation for a problem, question, or puzzling situation by using mental effort, logic, or calculation. 2. To understand someone's character or motives: To come to a conclusion about why a person behaves in a certain way.

Usage and Examples

• To solve a problem or puzzle:
  • I need to figure out how to fix this broken printer.
  • Can you figure out the answer to this riddle?
  • The detective finally figured out who committed the crime.
• To understand a concept or meaning:
  • It took me a while to figure out the instructions.
  • I can't figure out why she is so upset.
• To understand a person:
  • He's a complicated man; I've never been able to figure him out.

Advanced Usage

• "to figure something out for oneself": To solve a problem independently, without help.
  • The teacher encouraged the students to figure it out for themselves.
• The verb is separable. The object (especially a pronoun like , , , ) is placed between "figure" and "out."
  • This math problem is hard, but I will figure it out. (Correct)
  • This math problem is hard, but I will figure out it. (Incorrect)

Variants and Related Words

• Figure (verb): To appear or be included, often in a prominent way. ()
• Figure (noun): A number, a shape, or a person of a particular type. ()

Synonyms

• Solve: To find an answer to a problem.
• Work out: To solve or understand by thinking or calculating.
• Decipher: To succeed in understanding something confusing or unclear.
• Fathom: To understand a deep or complicated subject.
• Deduce: To reach a conclusion by reasoning.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Figure on (something): To plan or expect something.
  • We're figuring on leaving around noon.
• Figure in (something): To be included as a part of something.
  • Transportation costs figure in the total budget.

Related Idioms

• Put two and two together: To figure something out from the available information.
  • When I saw the empty box and the chocolate on his face, I put two and two together.
• Read between the lines: To understand a hidden or implied meaning.
  • If you read between the lines of his email, you can figure out he's not happy.

Verb

1. find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
   • did you solve the problem?
   • Work out your problems with the boss
   • this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out
   • did you get it?
   • Did you get my meaning?
   • He could not work the math problem