be determined
She was determined to finish the marathon, no matter how tired she felt.
She had made a firm decision to complete the race despite exhaustion.
To have made a firm decision to achieve something and not give up.
Despite many failures, he was determined to succeed.
He refused to quit and maintained his firm decision to achieve success.
They are determined to reduce carbon emissions by 2030.
They have committed firmly to reducing emissions by the target year.
Used to describe a strong resolve or commitment to a goal or action.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common mistake: 'determined of'
Avoid using 'be determined of'—the correct preposition is 'by' (e.g., 'Her success was determined by her effort') or 'to' (e.g., 'She is determined to win').
Gold Rule
Use 'be determined' for strong commitment
Use this phrase to emphasize unwavering resolve, not temporary motivation. Example: 'She was determined to learn English' (implies long-term commitment).
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'be' (Old English 'bēon') meaning 'to exist in a state' and 'determined' (from Latin 'determinare' meaning 'to limit, fix, or decide'). The modern sense of firm decision emerged in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in personal, professional, and motivational contexts. Often followed by 'to' + infinitive verb (e.g., 'determined to succeed').