determined
She was determined to finish the marathon, no matter how exhausted she felt.
This shows her strong will to complete the race despite fatigue.
firmly decided to do or achieve something; resolute
The team is determined to win the championship this year.
The team has a strong resolve to achieve victory.
He was determined to learn English fluently within a year.
His commitment to learning was unwavering.
Often implies persistence despite obstacles. Not to be confused with 'determining' (which means deciding the nature of something).
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid redundancy
Don't pair 'determined' with words like 'very' or 'extremely.' Instead, use stronger adjectives like 'unwavering' or 'steadfast' if you need emphasis.
Gold Rule
Context matters
Use 'determined' for people's attitudes, not for objects or abstract concepts. For example, say 'a determined athlete' (correct) but not 'a determined problem' (incorrect).
Word Origin
From Latin *determinatus* (past participle of *determinare*), meaning 'to set limits, define,' from *de-* (down, away) + *terminare* (to mark the boundary). First used in English in the 15th century to describe resolute decision-making.
Usage Notes
Used to describe people's attitudes or actions when they show strong resolve. Common in motivational contexts. Avoid overusing in formal legal or mathematical contexts unless referring to a decision-making process.