assess

verb as·sess \ ə-ˈses , a- \

Updated on: 23 May 2018

Definition of assess

transitive verb

1 : to determine the rate or amount of (something, such as a tax, charge, or fine)

2 a : to impose (something, such as a tax) according to an established rate

b : to subject to a tax, charge, or levy

Every homeowner will be assessed a tax according to the value of the property.

3 : to make an official valuation of (property) for the purposes of taxation

Their property is assessed at $200,000.

4 : to determine the importance, size, or value of

assess a problem

assess the damage

5 sports : to charge (a player or team) with a foul or penalty

—

assessable

play \-ˈse-sə-bəl\ adjective

See assess defined for English-language learners

See assess defined for kids

Examples of assess in a Sentence

Cornell graduate student James Tanner spent three years in the early 1940s slogging southern swamps and bayous to assess where and how the species could be saved. By his reckoning, no more than twenty-four ivory-bills remained in the entire Southeast. —John Terborgh, New York Review of Books, 26 Apr. 2007
When the training staff determined that Everett had no mobility below his neck, Cappuccino was waved onto the field. He performed a quick battery of tests to assess the severity of the injury, squeezing various parts of Everett's body and asking him to respond. —Tim Layden, Sports Illustrated, 17 Dec. 2007
Tetlock found that his experts used a double standard: they were much tougher in assessing the validity of information that undercut their theory than they were in crediting information that supported it. —Louis Menand, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2005
Briefly, the way it works is this. Every time a hog is sold, the seller is assessed 40 cents per $100 of sale value to promote the consumption of pork. —Warren R. Ross, UU World, Fall 2005
After the hurricane, officials assessed the town's need for aid.
We need to assess whether or not the system is working.
Damage to the boat was assessed at $5,000.
The company was assessed $12 million in fines for polluting the river.

Recent Examples of assess from the Web

Call in a real estate appraiser or broker to assess the situation.

— New York Times, "The Neighbor’s Fence Is an Eyesore. What to Do?," 19 May 2018
Meanwhile, a decision on Lukaku's availability will be made late on Saturday afternoon as the Red Devils continue to assess the Belgium internationals ability to start after sustaining an ankle injury last month.

— SI.com, "Jose Mourinho Reinstates Star Man for FA Cup Final But Admits Striker Fitness Worries," 19 May 2018
The office's primary job is to estimate the value of residential and commercial property to assess property tax bills.

— diana lambert, sacbee, "Realtor says she's challenging assessor to fix troubled department | The Sacramento Bee," 18 May 2018
The mold was discovered by an inspection company hired by AHS after the merger to assess the building.

— zachary hansen, ajc, "VIDEO: Gwinnett animal shelter temporarily closed after mold found," 17 May 2018
It’s harder to assess unfinished portions of Mueller’s work.

— matt ford, The New Republic, "Robert Mueller’s Most Important Accomplishment," 16 May 2018
The county report last week sought to assess what went right and what didn’t in the response to the hepatitis crisis.

— michael smolens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Hepatitis crisis has subsided, dispute over who's to blame hasn't," 16 May 2018
The group surveyed 20,000 families across the country to assess the average hourly babysitting rate.

— sonja haller, USA TODAY, "How much should you pay a babysitter? It depends on where you live," 15 May 2018
The group surveyed 20,000 families across the country to assess the average hourly babysitting rate.

— sonja haller, azcentral, "How much should you pay a babysitter? If you're in Phoenix, it's not a lot," 15 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'assess.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of assess

Middle English, probably from Medieval Latin assessus, past participle of assidēre, from Latin, to sit beside, assist in the office of a judge — more at assize

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

assess Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of assess

estimate, appraise, evaluate, value, rate, assess mean to judge something with respect to its worth or significance. estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out.

- estimated the crowd at two hundred

appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment.

- having their house appraised

evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary.

- evaluate a student's work

value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment.

- a watercolor valued by the donor at $500

rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values.

- a highly rated restaurant

assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action.

- officials are trying to assess the damage

Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

ASSESS Defined for English Language Learners

assess

verb

Definition of assess for English Language Learners

: to make a judgment about (something)
: to officially say what the amount, value, or rate of (something) is
: to tax or charge (someone or something) : to require (a person, business, etc.) to pay a particular amount of money

ASSESS Defined for Kids

assess

verb as·sess \ ə-ˈses \

Definition of assess for Students

assessed; assessing

1 : to make a judgment about

The school assessed the students' progress each year.

2 : to decide on the rate, value, or amount of (as for taxation)

The jury assessed damages of $5000.

The house was assessed at $140,000.

3 : to put a charge or tax on

The city assessed all car owners a fee.

—

assessor

\-ər\ noun

a tax assessor

Headscratcher for assess

Assesses is the longest word in English that contains only one consonant repeated over and over again.

Law Dictionary

assess

transitive verb as·sess \ ə-ˈses \

legal Definition of assess

1 : to determine the rate or amount of (as a tax)

2 a : to impose (as a tax) according to an established rate

b : to subject to a tax, charge, or levy

each property owner was assessed an additional five dollars

3 : to make an official valuation of (property) for the purposes of taxation

—

assessable

play \ə-ˈse-sə-bəl\ adjective

—

assessment

noun

Learn More about assess

See words that rhyme with assess Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for assess Spanish Central: Translation of assess Nglish: Translation of assess for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of assess for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up assess? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

assess

Definition of assess

assessable

Examples of assess in a Sentence

Recent Examples of assess from the Web

Origin and Etymology of assess

assess Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of assess

Other Economics Terms

ASSESS Defined for English Language Learners

assess

Definition of assess for English Language Learners

ASSESS Defined for Kids

assess

Definition of assess for Students

assessor

Headscratcher for assess

Law Dictionary

assess

legal Definition of assess

assessable

assessment

Learn More about assess

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Deprived' vs. 'Depraved'

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

12 Words from All Over the Map

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word