figure out

verb

figured out; figuring out; figures out

transitive verb

1
: discover, determine
try to figure out a way to do it
2
: solve, fathom
figure out a problem

Examples of figure out in a Sentence

a book of brainteasers that even a really clever person won't have an easy time figuring out
Recent Examples on the Web All enterprises, local newspapers included, are obliged to adapt to a changing marketplace and figure out how to compete. Chris Duffy, Twin Cities, 13 June 2024 To stem the bleeding, the Swedish furniture behemoth needed to figure out what was making its store workers so unhappy — and fix it fast. Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 11 June 2024 The company is trying to figure out its streaming service, too, which still hasn’t become profitable. Emma Roth, The Verge, 11 June 2024 So that responsibility of performing, figuring out what that arc is in a way that would hopefully be engaging and seductive and persuasive, that responsibility definitely fell on me in a new way. Gerrad Hall, EW.com, 11 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for figure out 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'figure out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of figure out was in 1600

Dictionary Entries Near figure out

Cite this Entry

“Figure out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/figure%20out. Accessed 18 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

figure out

verb
1
: find out, discover
try to figure out a way to do it
2
: solve
figure out a problem

More from Merriam-Webster on figure out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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