verb · neutral

determine

UK/dɪˈtɜː(r)mɪn/US/dɪˈtɝːmɪn/de·TER·mine

Band 7+speakingtask1task2

to find out exactly, to establish something, or to decide something officially

Examples

The lab tests will determine whether the sample contains contaminants.

Multiple factors determine students' performance, including background and resources.

It's hard to determine the exact cause from the available data.

Band 8 sentence

Before finalising my recommendation, I would determine the study's limitations and how they influence the validity of the conclusions.

Collocations

  • determine the cause
  • be determined by
  • determine whether/if

Word family

determine verbdetermination noundetermined adjectivedeterminable adjective

Common mistakes

determine about the causedetermine the cause

He determine the result after the test.He determined the result after the test.

They determine that the data are valid and then publish.They determined that the data were valid and then published.

Say it for a higher band

5find out6decide7+determine

Synonyms

decide

ascertain

Easily confused

decide

After reviewing the evidence, the committee decided to delay the project.

Related words

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In Sublist 1

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