determination

determination — noun

1. a person's inner strength to keep trying to reach a difficult goal, even when th

1.nounB2
Definition

a person's inner strength to keep trying to reach a difficult goal, even when the task becomes uncomfortable, tiring, or long

Example

Imran's determination to finish the marathon never weakened, even after he twisted his ankle.

determination + to-infinitive for personal goals

Learning to play the violin requires hours of practice and a great deal of determination.

collocation: a great deal of determination

Common collocations
  • show determination
  • display determination
  • great determination
  • sheer determination
  • fierce determination
  • dogged determination
  • determination to succeed
  • with determination
Synonyms
  • persistence

    focuses on continuing despite obstacles or repeated failures; less emphasis on inner strength than determination

  • resolve

    emphasises firmness of purpose or intention; often used in formal or serious contexts

  • perseverance

    similar to determination but highlights steady effort over a very long period rather than a single burst of will

  • willpower

    focuses on the mental self-control needed to resist temptation or push through discomfort

Antonyms
  • indecision

    the state of being unable to make up one's mind, the opposite of firmness of purpose

  • apathy

    lack of interest or concern, the opposite of the strong motivation determination implies

Grammar Patterns

determination + to-infinitive

Common Mistakes

She showed great determination of winning the race.
She showed great determination to win the race.
determination is followed by a to-infinitive, not of + gerund.
He has a strong determination to succeed.
He has strong determination to succeed.
determination is uncountable when it means perseverance, so it does not take a or an.

2. a firm decision or official settlement reached after careful thought, especially

2.nounB2
Definition

a firm decision or official settlement reached after careful thought, especially one made by a person or group with authority

Example

The court's determination of the case took over six months of careful legal review.

determination of [legal case]

The committee made a determination that the applicant did not meet the safety requirements.

make a determination + that-clause

Common collocations
  • make a determination
  • reach a determination
  • final determination
  • judicial determination
  • official determination
  • determination of responsibility
Synonyms
  • ruling

    specifically a formal decision made by a court or official body; narrower than determination

  • judgment

    emphasises the reasoning behind a decision; often used in legal contexts

  • verdict

    the final decision in a legal case, especially one made by a jury

Grammar Patterns

determination + of + noun phrase

make a determination

Common Mistakes

The committee reached a determination about to close the school.
The committee reached a determination that the school should close.' or 'The committee determined to close the school.
noun form uses a that-clause, not about + infinitive.

3. the process of discovering or calculating the exact amount, position, value, or

3.nounC1
Definition

the process of discovering or calculating the exact amount, position, value, or nature of something through research or testing

Example

The determination of the star's distance from Earth took the team of astronomers several years.

scientific use: determination of [measurement]

Accurate determination of the drug's strength is essential for patient safety.

Common collocations
  • accurate determination
  • scientific determination
  • experimental determination
  • determination of quantity
  • determination of value
  • determination of position
Synonyms
  • calculation

    more specific to mathematical or numerical findings; determination can include non-numerical findings

  • measurement

    emphasises the use of instruments to obtain a physical value

  • identification

    focuses on recognising the nature or identity of something rather than measuring it

Grammar Patterns

determination + of + something (measurement)

Common Mistakes

The determination of the chemical's property was done by the lab.' (vague)
The determination of the chemical's boiling point was carried out by the lab.' (specific measurable property)
with this sense, determination should refer to a specific measurable or calculable result, not just a general property.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Determination is the widest of these terms, covering the inner drive to keep going despite difficulty (e.g. 'She trained for months with fierce determination'). Persistence focuses on continuing to act despite repeated setbacks or objections, sometimes carrying a mildly stubborn tone ('His persistence eventually won over the committee'). Perseverance emphasises patient, steady effort over a very long time, often in the face of hardship that seems beyond one's control ('The hiker's perseverance through the blizzard saved his life'). Resolve suggests a fixed, serious intention that is resistant to persuasion or fear ('The leader spoke with quiet resolve'). Willpower highlights the self-control side — pushing through discomfort or resisting temptation ('It took all her willpower to wake up at 5 a.m. for training').

determination ↗persistence ↗perseveranceresolve ↗willpower

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • with determination
  • by determination of
  • a matter of determination

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Determination entered English through Old French 'determinacion', from Latin 'determinatio' meaning 'boundary, end, conclusion'. The Latin root is 'determinare' ('de-' meaning down/away + 'terminare' meaning to set bounds). The earliest English meanings were about official decisions and boundary-setting. The sense of personal willpower or resolve — the most common meaning today — became strong in the 19th century.