determine

determine — verb

1. to directly affect the way something happens or develops, so that a particular r

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to directly affect the way something happens or develops, so that a particular result is produced

Example

The quality of the ingredients determines how the final dish will taste.

determine + wh-clause (how)

Your attitude towards challenges often determines whether you succeed or give up.

determine + whether-clause

Common collocations
  • determine the outcome
  • determine the course of
  • determine whether
  • factors determine
  • determine the direction
  • determine the fate of
Synonyms
  • dictate

    stronger and more forceful; implies the influencing factor has complete control

  • govern

    more formal; suggests rules or principles that control how something works

  • shape

    implies gradual formation rather than direct control

Grammar Patterns

determine + noun phrase

determine + wh-clause (whether/how/what)

Usage Note

Frequently used with inanimate subjects such as 'factor', 'quality', 'amount', 'weather'. Unlike 'decide', which implies a conscious choice by a person, 'determine' in this sense describes a causal relationship where one thing produces or controls an outcome.

Common Mistakes

The weather will determine to rain tomorrow.
The weather will determine whether it rains tomorrow.
'determine' in this sense takes a wh-clause or noun phrase, not a to-infinitive.
I determined to finish the project by Friday.' (when meaning decided)
I decided to finish the project by Friday.
The 'determine + to-infinitive' pattern belongs to sense 2 (DECIDE FIRMLY), not this sense.

2. to firmly decide to do something after thinking carefully about it, often in a d

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to firmly decide to do something after thinking carefully about it, often in a determined or resolute way

Example

Luca determined to finish the marathon despite his knee injury at the halfway point.

determine + to-infinitive

Trang determined that she would apply for the scholarship before the end of the month.

determine + that-clause

Common collocations
  • determine to do something
  • determined to succeed
  • firmly determined
  • determine that
  • determine upon
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • hesitate

    to pause before deciding, the opposite of firm decision

  • waver

    to be uncertain, showing lack of resolve

Grammar Patterns

determine + to-infinitive

determine + that-clause

Usage Note

This sense is more formal and emphatic than 'decide'. It implies strong personal resolve or official determination rather than a simple choice. The 'determine + that-clause' pattern is particularly common in formal or institutional contexts. Frequently confused with the similar-sounding but distinct sense 1 (CONTROL OR INFLUENCE).

Common Mistakes

She determined going to the party.
She determined to go to the party.
After 'determine' in this sense, use a to-infinitive, not a gerund.
He determined the result of the game.' (when meaning he influenced it)
He determined to win the game.
The first sentence with an object noun phrase suggests sense 1 (CONTROL), not sense 2.

3. to discover definite information or establish the truth about something by inves

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to discover definite information or establish the truth about something by investigating, calculating, or examining it carefully

Example

The doctors ran several tests to determine the cause of the patient's unusual symptoms.

determine + noun phrase (the cause of)

Scientists used carbon dating to determine the exact age of the ancient wooden tool.

Common collocations
  • determine the cause
  • determine the exact location
  • determine the extent of
  • determine whether
  • determine the identity of
  • determine the value of
Synonyms
  • ascertain

    more formal and technical; common in academic writing

  • establish

    suggests proving something beyond doubt, often with evidence

  • identify

    focuses on recognizing or naming the specific thing

  • figure out

    informal; emphasizes problem-solving rather than systematic investigation

Antonyms
  • overlook

    to fail to notice or discover

  • ignore

    to deliberately pay no attention to something that could be discovered

Grammar Patterns

determine + noun phrase

determine + wh-clause (what/why/whether/how)

determine + that-clause

Usage Note

Often used in scientific, medical, legal, and investigative contexts. Unlike 'find out' (informal) or 'discover' (often accidental), 'determine' implies a systematic or methodical process of reaching a conclusion. The object is typically an unknown fact, cause, amount, or identity.

Common Mistakes

I determined that she was my friend.
I determined that the fire had started in the kitchen.
'Determine' in this sense is used for factual discovery, not for forming personal opinions or recognizing people.
She determined the answer by guessing.
She determined the answer by checking the records.
This sense implies methodical investigation, not guesswork or intuition.

Word family

  • determination
    nounB2
  • determined
    adjectiveB2
  • determiner
    nounC1
  • predetermined
    adjectiveC1
  • indeterminate
    adjectiveC1
  • determinant
    nounC1
  • determinism
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Determine', 'dictate', 'govern', and 'decide' all describe how one thing influences another, but with different strengths. 'Determine' is the most general: it describes a direct causal relationship where one factor controls an outcome ('Your attitude determines your success'). 'Dictate' is much stronger and more forceful, often implying an external force with complete authority that leaves no room for change ('The weather dictated our travel plans'). 'Govern' is more formal and often describes how rules, principles, or natural laws control something ('Market forces govern prices'). 'Decide' is the odd one out — it usually implies a conscious choice by a person, whereas the others describe impersonal causation. Use 'decide' when a person or group makes an active choice ('The committee decided the winner'); use 'determine' when a factor produces a result without anyone choosing. For example: 'Her experience determined her promotion' (her experience was the cause) versus 'The manager decided her promotion' (the manager made the choice).

determine ↗dictate ↗govern ↗decide ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • factor determines
  • result determines
  • test determines
  • investigation determines

Adverbs

  • ultimately determine
  • largely determine
  • partly determine
  • accurately determine
  • precisely determine

Phrases

  • determine the extent of
  • determine the nature of
  • determine the outcome of

Prepositions

  • determine by
  • determine from
  • determine on the basis of

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

'Determine' entered English through Old French 'determiner', from Latin 'determinare', meaning 'to limit, set boundaries, or fix'. The Latin word combines 'de-' (off, away) with 'terminare' (to limit, to mark the end), which comes from 'terminus' (boundary, limit). The original sense in English was 'to set limits or boundaries', which over time broadened into 'to settle or decide' (by about the 1400s) and later 'to find out' (by the 1600s). The sense of 'influencing an outcome' developed in the 1700s.