determinate
adjective
de·ter·mi·nate
di-ˈtər-mə-nət 
1
: having defined limits
a determinate period of time
2
: definitely settled
a determinate order of precedence
3
: conclusively determined : definitive
a determinate answer
4
botany
: characterized by sequential flowering from the central or uppermost bud to the lateral or basal (see basal sense 1b) buds
also
: characterized by growth in which the main stem ends in an inflorescence and stops growing with only branches from the main stem having further and similarly restricted growth
determinate tomato plants
compare indeterminate sense 4
5
biology
: relating to, being, or undergoing egg cleavage (see cleavage sense 3) in which each division irreversibly separates portions of the zygote with specific potencies for further development
determinately
adverb
determinateness
noun
Examples of determinate in a Sentence
a determinate period of time
a determinate order of succession to the throne
Recent Examples on the Web
Most determinate tomatoes will have produced the bulk of their fruit within a short window, often before summer ends.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
Smaller tomato plants of the determinate type can add a splash of color while not overtaking the garden space.
—Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
The length of the harvest window for slicing tomatoes depends on whether the plant is determinate or indeterminate.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2025
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Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
Smaller tomato plants of the determinate type can add a splash of color while not overtaking the garden space.
—Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
The length of the harvest window for slicing tomatoes depends on whether the plant is determinate or indeterminate.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Determinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/determinate. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
determinate
adjective
de·ter·mi·nate
di-ˈtərm-(ə-)nət
1
: having fixed limits : definite
a determinate period of time
2
: definitely settled
arranged in a determinate order
determinately
adverb
determinateness
noun
Medical Definition
determinate
adjective
de·ter·mi·nate
di-ˈtərm-(ə-)nət
: relating to, being, or undergoing determinate cleavage
a determinate egg
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