calculate

verb

cal·​cu·​late ˈkal-kyə-ˌlāt 

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 expression

—Hugh 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 attempt

—Mark Twain

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a calculation

b

: to forecast consequences

2

: count, rely

Synonyms

• cipher
• compute
• figure
• reckon
• work out

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

That tracks with the roughly 90,000 hours author Jessica Pryce-Jones calculated in her 2010 book Happiness at Work. —Trey Williams, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2024

The group calculated that the extra revenue added $125 million to the coffers of local taxing agencies, and saved the average Fort Worth property owner about $709 in taxes. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2024

Munn's lifesaving diagnosis was due to her ob-gyn’s decision to calculate her lifetime breast cancer risk score during a routing Pap smear using a free online tool called a Tyrer-Cuzick risk assessment calculator. —Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024

An Israeli airstrike on Iran on Friday damaged an air defense system, according to Western and Iranian officials, in an attack calculated to deliver a message that Israel could bypass Iran’s defensive systems undetected and paralyze them. —Luis Ferré-Sadurní, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024

The researchers calculated participants’ biological ages by analyzing nine biomarkers found in the blood: albumin, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, C-reactive protein, glucose, mean corpuscular volume, red cell distribution width, white blood cell count, and lymphocyte proportion. —Maggie O'Neill, Health, 18 Apr. 2024

The world's poorest countries will suffer 61% bigger income loss than the richest ones, the study calculated. —Seth Borenstein, Quartz, 17 Apr. 2024

China’s year to date box office is now $2.55 billion, which Artisan Gateway calculates as 6% ahead of last year. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024

In a preprint that has not yet been peer reviewed, the Jefferson Lab team calculated that this radius may be about 25 percent smaller than the charge radius, just 0.6 femtometers. —Charlie Wood, WIRED, 14 Apr. 2024

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

Kids Definition

calculate

verb

cal·​cu·​late ˈkal-kyə-ˌlāt 

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