calculate

verb

cal·​cu·​late ˈkal-kyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce calculate (audio)
calculated; calculating

transitive verb

1
a
: to determine by mathematical processes
calculate the rate of acceleration
b
: to reckon by exercise of practical judgment : estimate
calculate the likelihood of success
c
: to solve or probe the meaning of : figure out
trying to calculate his expressionHugh MacLennan
2
: to design or adapt for a purpose
he carefully calculated the timing of his arrival for maximum impact
3
a
: to judge to be true or probable
b
: intend
I calculate to do it or perish in the attemptMark Twain

intransitive verb

1
a
: to make a calculation
b
: to forecast consequences
2
: count, rely

Examples of calculate in a Sentence

calculate the volume of a cylinder I need to calculate how long it will take me to drive to Chicago. We calculated the cost of new carpeting for the whole house. We need to calculate our chances of success before we invest more money in the business.
Recent Examples on the Web Bloomberg Economics calculated the odds at a hundred per cent. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 The National Republican Congressional Committee, the campaign arm of House Republicans, calculated that two-thirds of the battle for control of the House will occur in states largely untouched by the presidential election. Jonathan Weisman, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 For pharmacies that were not able to quickly route claims to a different company, the Change Health outage left pharmacists to try to manually calculate a patient's copay or offer them the cash price. Democrat-Gazette Staff and Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 2 Mar. 2024 The satnav will calculate optimal charging stops for the fastest routing on long journeys. James Morris, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 For pharmacies that were not able to quickly route claims to a different company, the Change Health outage left pharmacists to try to manually calculate a patient’s co-pay or offer them the cash price. Daniel Gilbert, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Then, analysts calculated an overall score based on cities' ranking in the three categories. Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024 While the rise in appraisal values is not nearly as big as last year’s, everyone should expect to see a higher level for the baseline on which property tax bills will be calculated, said County Appraiser Matt Willard. Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 29 Feb. 2024 The state committee, which dissolved in 2023, also offered numerous policy recommendations, including methodologies to calculate cash payments to descendants of enslaved people. Janie Har, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Latin calculatus, past participle of calculare, from calculus pebble (used in reckoning), perhaps irregular diminutive of calc-, calx lime — more at chalk

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of calculate was in 1542

Dictionary Entries Near calculate

Cite this Entry

“Calculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calculate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

calculate

verb
cal·​cu·​late ˈkal-kyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce calculate (audio)
calculated; calculating
1
: to find by performing mathematical operations (as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) : compute
calculate the average
2
: estimate entry 1 sense 1
calculate the risk of losing
3
: to plan by careful thought
a program calculated to succeed
Etymology

from Latin calculatus "calculate," derived from calculus "pebble (used in counting)," from calc-, calx "stone used in gambling, lime" — related to calcium, chalk

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