Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
determine
de‧ter‧mine W2 /dɪˈtɜːmən, dɪˈtɜːmɪn $ -ɜːr-/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[Word Family: adjective: determined, indeterminate, predetermined; noun: determination, determiner; verb: determine; adverb: determinedly]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: determiner, from Latin terminus 'edge, limit']
1. to find out the facts about something SYN establish:
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.
determine how/what/who etc
The aim of the inquiry was to determine what had caused the accident.
determine that
Experts have determined that the signature was forged.
2. if something determines something else, it directly influences or decides it:
The amount of available water determines the number of houses that can be built.
The age of a wine is a determining factor as to how it tastes.
determine how/whether/what etc
How hard the swimmers work now will determine how they perform in the Olympics.
3. to officially decide something:
The date of the court case has not yet been determined.
determine how/what/who etc
The tests will help the doctors determine what treatment to use.
4. determine to do something formal to decide to do something:
We determined to leave at once.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ decide to make a choice to do something: We decided to send our son to a boarding school. | I decided to go home early.
▪ make up your mind to decide something, especially after thinking about it for a long time. Make up your mind is less formal than decide and is mainly used in spoken English: Have you made up your mind about where you’ll go on holiday?
▪ choose to do something to decide to do something – especially when this is different from what people expect or tell you to do: She chose to ignore my advice. | More young couples are choosing not to marry.
▪ make a decision to decide after thinking carefully about something, especially about something that is very important: They made a decision not to have children.
▪ resolve formal to decide that you will definitely do something, especially because you think it will be better for you, or because of your past experiences: She resolved to work hard at school.
▪ determine formal to officially decide what something shall be: Each hospital can determine its own pay rates.
▪ come down in favour of something British English, come down in favor of something American English to decide to support a particular plan, argument etc – used especially about groups of people: Eight of the ten committee members came down in favour of the changes.
▪ come to/reach a decision to officially decide about something important after discussing and carefully considering it - used especially about groups of people: After two hours of discussion, the comittee had still not come to a decision on any of the proposals.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
determine
de·ter·mine [determine determines determined determining] [dɪˈtɜːmɪn] [dɪˈtɜːrmɪn] verb (formal)
1. transitive to discover the facts about sth; to calculate sth exactly
Syn: establish
• ~ sth An inquiry was set up to determine the cause of the accident.
• ~ what, whether, etc… We set out to determine exactly what happened that night.
• it is determined that… It was determined that she had died of natural causes.
2. transitive ~ sth | ~ what, whether, etc… to make sth happen in a particular way or be of a particular type
• Age and experience will be determining factors in our choice of candidate.
• Upbringing plays an important part in determining a person's character.
3. transitive to officially decide and/or arrange sth
• ~ sth A date for the meeting has yet to be determined.
• ~ (that)… The court determined (that) the defendant should pay the legal costs.
4. transitive, intransitive ~ to do sth | ~ (that)… | ~ on sth to decide definitely to do sth
• They determined to start early.
Verb forms:
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French determiner, from Latin determinare ‘limit, fix’, from de- ‘completely’ + terminare ‘terminate’.
Thesaurus:
determine verb
1. T (formal)
• An inquiry was set up to determine the cause of the accident.
discover • • find • • establish • • identify • |formal ascertain •
determine/establish/identify/ascertain what/how/when/where/why/whether…
determine/discover/find/establish/identify/ascertain the cause
determine/discover/find/establish/identify the correlation
2. T, often passive (formal)
• Female employment was determined by economic factors.
decide • • dictate • • govern • • shape • • form • |often disapproving rule •
determine/decide/dictate/govern/shape how…
determine/decide/dictate/shape the outcome/result (of sth)
determine/dictate/shape the course/direction/future (of sth)
Example Bank:
• 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 extent of the problem.
• Reproductive success is directly determined by attractiveness to the female.
• We need a detailed investigation to determine exactly why these cancers are occurring.
• a decision which would ultimately determine the fate of the project
• the debate about whether such attitudes are biologically or culturally determined
• An enquiry was set up to determine the cause of the accident.
• 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.
• Female employment was determined by economic and social factors.
• From that moment, I determined that it should not happen again.
• He suggested that alcoholism may be genetically determined.
• It is not for the police to determine what information should be disclosed.
• The court determined that the defendant should pay the legal costs.
• The government determined on a change of policy.
• The physical capabilities of a plant determine where it can and cannot live.
• The success of these plans will be determined largely by the number of members who take part.
• Their responses to these questions could determine the level, quality and variety of care they received.
• Upbringing plays an important part in determining a person's character.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
determine / dɪˈtɜː.mɪn / / -ˈtɝː- / verb (DECIDE)
C1 [ T often passive ] to control or influence something directly, or to decide what will happen:
The number of staff we can take on will be determined by how much money we're allowed to spend.
Your health is determined in part by what you eat.
Eye colour is genetically determined.
[ + question word ] formal A pitch inspection will determine wh ether or not the match will be played.
People should be allowed to determine their own future.
[ T ] formal to make a strong decision:
[ + that ] She determined that one day she would be an actor.
[ + to infinitive ] On leaving jail, Joe determined to reform.
determine / dɪˈtɜː.mɪn / / -ˈtɝː- / verb [ T ] formal (DISCOVER)
C1 to discover the facts or truth about something:
The police never actually determined the cause of death.
[ + question word ] It is the responsibility of the court to determine wh ether these men are innocent.
[ + that ] The jury determined that the men were guilty.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
determine
[dɪtɜ͟ː(r)mɪn]
♦♦
determines, determining, determined
1) VERB If a particular factor determines the nature of a thing or event, it causes it to be of a particular kind. [FORMAL]
[V n] The size of the chicken pieces will determine the cooking time...
[V n] Social status is largely determined by the occupation of the main breadwinner...
[V wh] What determines whether you are a career success or a failure?
Syn:
decide, dictate
Derived words:
determination N-UNCOUNT with supp ...the gene which is responsible for male sex determination.
2) VERB To determine a fact means to discover it as a result of investigation. [FORMAL]
[V wh] The investigation will determine what really happened...
[V n] Experts say testing needs to be done on each contaminant to determine the long-term effects on humans...
[V that] The best science can do is determine that a risk is so small that it's not worth worrying about. [Also V wh]
Syn:
find out
3) VERB If you determine something, you decide it or settle it.
[V n] The Baltic people have a right to determine their own future...
[V n] The final wording had not yet been determined...
[V wh] My aim was first of all to determine what I should do next. [Also V that, V wh-to-inf]
Derived words:
determination plural N-COUNT usu sing, usu the N of n We must take into our own hands the determination of our future.
4) VERB If you determine to do something, you make a firm decision to do it. [FORMAL]
[V to-inf] He determined to rescue his two countrymen...
[V that] I determined that I would ask him outright.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
determine
de·ter·mine /dɪˈtɚmən/ verb -mines; -mined; -min·ing [+ obj]
1 a : to officially decide (something) especially because of evidence or facts : to establish (something) exactly or with authority
• The town has finally determined ownership of the land. = The town has finally determined who owns the land.
• The new policy will be determined by a special committee.
b : to be the cause of or reason for (something)
• The demand for a product determines its price.
• He believes that one's personality is determined mostly by genetics.
✦A determining factor is a reason to make a particular choice or decision.
• Price was the determining factor in their decision.
2 : to learn or find out (something) by getting information
• An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
• They are unable to accurately determine the ship's position at this time.
• Scholars have determined that the book was written in the late 16th century.
• I am trying to determine what happened and when.
3 formal : to make a decision : decide
• They are determining if/whether they should stay.
• They determined to leave immediately.
• He determined [=resolved] that he would learn a foreign language.