judge

verb

judged; judging

transitive verb

1

: to form an opinion about through careful weighing of evidence and testing of premises

2

: to form an estimate or evaluation of

trying to judge the amount of time required

especially : to form a negative opinion about

shouldn't judge him because of his accent

3

: to hold as an opinion : guess, think

I judge she knew what she was doing

4

: to sit in judgment on : try

judge a case

5

: to determine or pronounce after inquiry and deliberation

They judged him guilty.

6

: govern, rule

—used of a Hebrew tribal leader

intransitive verb

1

: to form an opinion

2

: to decide as a judge

judger noun

Synonyms of judge

• decide
• determine
• settle
• adjudicate
• adjudge

Choose the Right Synonym for judge

infer, deduce, conclude, judge, gather mean to arrive at a mental conclusion.

infer implies arriving at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence; if the evidence is slight, the term comes close to surmise.

from that remark, I inferred that they knew each other

deduce often adds to infer the special implication of drawing a particular inference from a generalization.

denied we could deduce anything important from human mortality

conclude implies arriving at a necessary inference at the end of a chain of reasoning.

concluded that only the accused could be guilty

judge stresses a weighing of the evidence on which a conclusion is based.

judge people by their actions

gather suggests an intuitive forming of a conclusion from implications.

gathered their desire to be alone without a word

Examples of judge in a Sentence

You should not judge people by their appearance.

He was trying to judge the strength of his opponent.

We should do whatever we judge to be the right thing.

Who are you to judge me?

He feels that they have judged him unfairly.

Don't judge her too severely.

The jury will be asked to judge the defendant's guilt.

If you are accused of a crime you have the right to be judged by a jury of your peers.

Recent Examples on the Web

But judging from all the people crowding into downtown on that unseasonably warm March afternoon, Livermore isn’t so hidden anymore. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 4 June 2026

Online, many are using the wedding as an occasion to rehash and judge the state of several of Swift’s high-profile friendships with people like Blake Lively and Karlie Kloss. —Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 4 June 2026

And judging by their spending, Americans agree. —Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 4 June 2026

But non-victors can be -- and people are beginning to judge Putin. —David Brennan, ABC News, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English juggen, borrowed from Anglo-French juger (continental Old French jugier), going back to Latin jūdicāre, derivative of jūdex "individual appointed to decide a case at law, judge entry 1"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing judge

• (as) sober as a judge
• as/so far as one can see/tell/judge
• back judge
• circuit judge
• field judge
• judge advocate
• judge advocate general
• line judge

Rhymes for judge

• budge
• drudge
• frage
• fudge
• grudge
• mudge
• nudge
• rudge
• sludge
• smudge
• trudge
• adjudge

Kids Definition

judge

1 of 2 verb

ˈjəj 

judged; judging

1

: to form an opinion after careful consideration

2

: to decide as a judge : try

3

: to reach a conclusion about something : think

judge

2 of 2 noun

1

: a public official having authority to decide questions brought before a court

2

: a person appointed to decide in a contest or competition : umpire

3

: a person who is qualified to give an opinion : critic

judgeship

-ˌship 

noun

Etymology

Middle English juggen "to judge," from early French juger (same meaning), from Latin judicare "to judge," from judic-, judex "judge," from jus "right, law," and dicere "to say" — related to hoosegow, jury, just, prejudice

Legal Definition

judge

1 of 2 verb

ˈjəj 

judged; judging

transitive verb

1

: to hear and decide (as a litigated question) in a court of justice

judge a case

2

: to pronounce after inquiry and deliberation

he was judged incompetent

intransitive verb

: to make a determination : decide

judge between two accounts

judge

2 of 2 noun

: a public official vested with the authority to hear, determine, and preside over legal matters brought in court

also : one (as a justice of the peace) who performs one or more functions of such an official

Etymology

Old French jugier, from Latin judicare, from judic-, judex judge, from jus right, law + dicere to decide, say