determineverb
uk/dɪˈtɜː.mɪn/us/dɪˈtɝː.mɪn/determine 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 Officials will determine whether or not the game 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.
More examples
- Genes determine how we develop from the moment the sperm fuses with the egg.
- The economy is regarded as the decisive/key factor which will determine the outcome of the general election.
- The success of the event will be determined by the vagaries of the weather.
- People want to determine their own destinies.
- The amount of money the bank is willing to lend is determined by the value of the property.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Decisions and deciding
- be make or break for sb/sth idiom
- be on the horns of a dilemma idiom
- clinch
- clincher
- come down on one side of the fence or the other idiom
- come to sth
- decider
- fight
- hammer sth out
- head
- it's a date idiom
- lot
- make or break sth idiom
- make up your mind idiom
- mind
- name
- name the day idiom
- plunge
- spin a coin idiom
- toss
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determine verb (DISCOVER)
C1 [ T ] formal 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 whether these men are innocent.
[ + that ] The jury determined that the men were guilty.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Finding and discovering
- a fishing expedition idiom
- alight
- ascertain
- break fresh/new ground idiom
- breakthrough
- catch sb red-handed idiom
- flush
- get wind of sth idiom
- happen
- happen on/upon sth/sb
- have a (good) nose for sth idiom
- have got something there idiom
- root sth/sb out
- run sb/sth to ground idiom
- scent
- search
- search sth/sb out
- smell
- sniff sth out
- stumble
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