determine

/dɪˈtɜːmɪn/

to find out or decide something

The scientists will determine the cause of the outbreak.

They will find out what caused the outbreak.

general

to find out something for certain

The test will determine whether the patient has the disease.

The test will find out if the patient has the disease.

Often used in formal or scientific contexts.

formal

to decide something officially or authoritatively

The court will determine the outcome of the case.

The court will officially decide the result of the case.

Used in legal or administrative contexts.

Collocations

determine the causefind out what caused somethingdetermine the outcomedecide the final resultdetermine the best optiondecide which choice is best

to establish what is true

to decide someone's future

Use 'determine' in formal contexts; for casual speech, 'find out' or 'decide' may be more natural.

'Determine' is typically transitive - it requires an object (e.g., 'determine the cause').

From Middle English 'determinen', from Old French 'determiner', from Latin 'determinare' (to limit, define).

Can be used both transitively (with an object) and intransitively (without an object).

de-

completely

prefix

-termine

to limit or define

root

English Dictionary