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 of calculate

• compute
• figure
• estimate
• assess
• measure

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

It’s not calculated to put anxious writers’ minds at rest—most of us already live in fear that our flimsy characters will be exposed through our work. —David O’Neill, New Yorker, 20 May 2026

Like the engineers who once calculated trajectories to the moon, our graduates will be the driving force that keeps the world moving — one server, one circuit and one idea at a time. —Victoria Seals, AJC.com, 20 May 2026

Giuseppe Pappa took a mathematical approach to the celestial event, by photographing the moon, Venus and the gas giant Jupiter in the skies over Catania, Italy on May 19 before calculating the angles between them. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 20 May 2026

Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft have collectively earmarked $725 billion in capital expenditures this year, according to analysis of company statements first calculated by the Financial Times. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 19 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin calculātus, past participle of calculāre "to count, reckon, compute," derivative of Latin calculus "pebble, pebble used for calculating on a counting board, method or result of calculation" — more at calculus

Note: The verb may already have existed in Latin, to judge by the derivative calculātor—see calculator.

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for calculate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

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