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Definition of determine verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

determine

verb
 
/dɪˈtɜːmɪn/
 
/dɪˈtɜːrmɪn/
(formal)
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they determine
 
/dɪˈtɜːmɪn/
 
/dɪˈtɜːrmɪn/
he / she / it determines
 
/dɪˈtɜːmɪnz/
 
/dɪˈtɜːrmɪnz/
past simple determined
 
/dɪˈtɜːmɪnd/
 
/dɪˈtɜːrmɪnd/
past participle determined
 
/dɪˈtɜːmɪnd/
 
/dɪˈtɜːrmɪnd/
-ing form determining
 
/dɪˈtɜːmɪnɪŋ/
 
/dɪˈtɜːrmɪnɪŋ/
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  1. [transitive] to discover the facts about something; to calculate something exactly synonym establish
    • determine something An inquiry was set up to determine the cause of the accident.
    • Try to determine the extent of the problem.
    • determine what, whether, etc… We set out to determine exactly what happened that night.
    • It is difficult to determine when drama first appeared in India.
    • it is determined that… It was determined that she had died of natural causes.
    Extra Examples
    • Computer models help to determine whether a particular area is likely to flood.
    • It is difficult to determine the exact cause of the illness.
    • It should be possible to determine the level of interest.
    • We need a detailed investigation to determine exactly why these cancers are occurring.
    Topics Scientific researchb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • exactly
    • precisely
    • reliably
    verb + determine
    • try to
    • be used to
    • help to
    See full entry
  2. [transitive] to make something happen in a particular way or be of a particular type
    • determine something Rural voters in key states will determine the outcome of the election.
    • Upbringing plays an important part in determining a person's character.
    • Age and experience will be determining factors in our choice of candidate.
    • determine where, whether, etc… The physical capabilities of a plant determine where it can and cannot live.
    Extra Examples
    • Reproductive success is directly determined by attractiveness to the female.
    • He suggested that alcoholism may be genetically determined.
    • Female employment was determined by economic and social factors.
    • the debate about whether such attitudes are biologically or culturally determined
    • Their responses to these questions could determine the level, quality and variety of care they received.
    • The success of these plans will be determined largely by the number of members who take part.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • biologically
    • culturally
    • genetically
    See full entry
  3. [transitive] to officially decide and/or arrange something
    • determine something A date for the meeting has yet to be determined.
    • determine (that)… The court determined (that) the defendant should pay the legal costs.
    Extra Examples
    • It is not for the police to determine what information should be disclosed.
    • a decision which would ultimately determine the fate of the project
  4. [transitive, intransitive] to decide definitely to do something
    • determine to do something They determined to start early.
    • determine on something The government determined on a change of policy.
    • determine (that)… From that moment, I determined that it should not happen again.
    Extra Examples
    • As she walked home, she determined to speak to her boss the next day.
    • At seven years old I determined to be a great footballer.
  5. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French determiner, from Latin determinare ‘limit, fix’, from de- ‘completely’ + terminare ‘terminate’.
See determine in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee determine in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
given
adjective
 
 
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OPAL spoken words
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