determine

1 to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) <a three-member panel will determine the case> Synonyms adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, decide, judge, referee, rule (on), settle, umpireRelated Words consider, deem, deliberate, hear, ponder, weigh; size up; mediate, moderate, negotiate; prosecute, try; find (for or against); conclude, resolve; redetermine, rejudgeNear Antonyms equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, skirt

2 to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration <trying to determine which direction we were facing> Synonyms choose, conclude, decide, figure, name, opt, resolve, settle (on or upon)Related Words decree, rule; cull, elect, handpick, pick, prefer, select, single (out); adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, find, judge, referee, rule (on), umpire; chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, debate, deliberate, entertain, meditate, mull (over), ponder, question, ruminate, study, think (about or over), weighNear Antonyms abstain, decline, refuse, reject, turn down; delay, halt, hesitate, stall, temporize; shilly-shally, vacillate, waffle, waver

3 to come upon after searching, study, or effort <we failed to determine the answer to the riddle> Synonyms ascertain, descry, detect, find, dig out, dig up, discover, dredge (up), ferret (out), find out, get, hit (on or upon), hunt (down or up), learn, locate, nose out, root (out), rout (out), rummage, run down, scare up, scout (up), track (down), turn upRelated Words espy, sight, spot; look for, search (for or out), seekNear Antonyms lose, mislay, misplace, missetAntonyms miss, overlook, pass over

4 to come to an end <your participation in the savings plan determines with the termination of your employment here> Synonyms break off, break up, close, conclude, dead-end, cease, die, discontinue, elapse, end, expire, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up, wink (out)Related Words desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from); give over [British], knock off, pack (up or in); break down, conk (out), cut out, stall; pause, stay, suspend; abate, peter (out), wind downNear Antonyms draw out, extend, prolong, protractAntonyms continue, hang on, persist

5 to make final, definite, or beyond dispute <your choice of college could determine the rest of your life> Synonyms decide, clinch, nail, settleRelated Words demonstrate, establish, nail (down), prove, show; affirm, assure, ensure, insure, secure; define, specify, state, stipulate; clarify, clear (up), illuminate; conclude, end, finishNear Antonyms confuse, muddle, muddy, unsettle