Definition of 'ascertain'
Word forms: 3rd person singular present
tense ascertains
, present participle ascertaining
, past tense , past participle ascertained
verb
If you ascertain the truth about something, you find out what it is, especially by making a deliberate effort to do so.
[formal]
Through doing this, the teacher will be able to ascertain the extent to which the
child understands what he is reading.
Once they had ascertained that he was not a spy, they agreed to release him.
Take time to ascertain what services your bank is providing, and at what cost.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
ascertainable (ˌascerˈtainable) adjective
ascertainably (ˌascerˈtainably)
adverb
ascertainment (ˌascerˈtainment)
noun
Word origin of 'ascertain'
C15: from Old French acertener to make certain SIMILAR WORDS: learn
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
ascertainable (ˌascerˈtainable) adjective
ascertainment (ˌascerˈtainment)
noun
Example sentences containing 'ascertain'
There should be a public inquiry to ascertain the facts.
The Sun (2016)It is merely to ascertain some facts.
Times, Sunday Times (2008) Broken Lives (1993) Times, Sunday Times (2011)If a teacher wants to ascertain whether in fact learning has taken place, she has to measure this change.
Educational Psychology in a Changing World (1988)You will need to ascertain exactly why an individual isn't performing well enough and then choose the correct procedure.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)Considering all factors and facts to ascertain the economic reality here, the plaintiff constituted an employee of the church alone.
Christianity Today (2000)Committee members were unable to ascertain exactly which pollutants had done what, but identified the mine as the source of the trouble.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)A post-mortem failed to ascertain cause of death.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)I was an investigative journalist and set out to ascertain the facts about violence in South Africa.
Times, Sunday Times (2013) Times, Sunday Times (2016)Further afield, where planes are still incredibly loud, it is impossible to ascertain the extent to which properties will suffer from noise blight.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)Trends of 'ascertain'
View usage over:
Translations for 'ascertain'
British English: ascertain VERB
If you ascertain the truth about something, you find out what it is, especially by making a deliberate effort to do so.An investigation has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.
If you ascertain the truth about something, you find out what it is, especially by making a deliberate effort to do so.An investigation has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.
- Brazilian Portuguese: averiguar
- Chinese: > 查明尤指经过努力
- European Spanish: determinar
- French: établir
- German: feststellen
- Italian: accertare
- Japanese: 確かめる
- Korean: 확인하다
- Portuguese: averiguar
- Spanish: determinar
Source
Definition of ascertain from the
Collins English Dictionary
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