determinate
adjective
de·ter·mi·nate
di-ˈtər-mə-nət 
1
: having defined limits
a determinate period of time
2
: definitely settled
a determinate order of precedence
3
: conclusively determined : definitive
a determinate answer
4
botany
: characterized by sequential flowering from the central or uppermost bud to the lateral or basal (see basal sense 1b) buds
also
: characterized by growth in which the main stem ends in an inflorescence and stops growing with only branches from the main stem having further and similarly restricted growth
determinate tomato plants
compare indeterminate sense 4
5
biology
: relating to, being, or undergoing egg cleavage (see cleavage sense 3) in which each division irreversibly separates portions of the zygote with specific potencies for further development
determinately
adverb
determinateness
noun
Examples of determinate in a Sentence
a determinate period of time
a determinate order of succession to the throne
Recent Examples on the Web
Then space your determinate tomatoes out by 18 to 24 inches per plant and your indeterminate tomato plants 18 inches apart.
—
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2025
Then space your determinate tomatoes out by 18 to 24 inches per plant and your indeterminate tomato plants 18 inches apart.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2025
Because of this continual growth, indeterminate tomato plants tend to grow larger than determinate types.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
Space supported or caged determinate tomato plants 1½ to 2 feet apart, increasing the spacing to 2 to 2½ feet for unsupported plants.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
Indeterminate tomatoes grow larger than determinate types but are commonly pruned to a single main stem.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
Opt for determinate varieties, which grow 3 to 4 feet tall in a bushy form and produce fruit in four to five weeks.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2025
Pumpkins and other crops with sprawling vines can quickly overwhelm a small space, but root crops, determinate tomatoes, green onions, chili peppers, and leafy greens are all small enough for indoor growing.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2024
Because of this continual growth, indeterminate tomato plants tend to grow larger than determinate types.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
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Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2025
Then space your determinate tomatoes out by 18 to 24 inches per plant and your indeterminate tomato plants 18 inches apart.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2025
Because of this continual growth, indeterminate tomato plants tend to grow larger than determinate types.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
Space supported or caged determinate tomato plants 1½ to 2 feet apart, increasing the spacing to 2 to 2½ feet for unsupported plants.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
Indeterminate tomatoes grow larger than determinate types but are commonly pruned to a single main stem.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
Opt for determinate varieties, which grow 3 to 4 feet tall in a bushy form and produce fruit in four to five weeks.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2025
Pumpkins and other crops with sprawling vines can quickly overwhelm a small space, but root crops, determinate tomatoes, green onions, chili peppers, and leafy greens are all small enough for indoor growing.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2024
Because of this continual growth, indeterminate tomato plants tend to grow larger than determinate types.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Determinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/determinate. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
determinate
adjective
de·ter·mi·nate
di-ˈtərm-(ə-)nət
1
: having fixed limits : definite
a determinate period of time
2
: definitely settled
arranged in a determinate order
determinately
adverb
determinateness
noun
Medical Definition
determinate
adjective
de·ter·mi·nate
di-ˈtərm-(ə-)nət
: relating to, being, or undergoing determinate cleavage
a determinate egg
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