diagnose
verb
di·ag·nose
ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs 
-ˌnōz,
ˌdī-ig-ˈnōs
-ˈnōz,
-əg-
diagnosed; diagnosing
1
a
: to recognize (something, such as a disease) by signs and symptoms
The other method of diagnosing gallstones is through an ultrasound examination, which has the advantages of being simple, safe and quick.—
G. Timothy Johnson
G. Timothy JohnsonPulmonary embolus was diagnosed in two of the actively treated patients …—Richard D. Sautter et al.
Richard D. Sautter et al.
b
: to recognize a disease or condition in
The physicist and cosmologist was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease when he was a 21-year-old student at Cambridge University.—Maria Cheng
Maria Cheng2
: to analyze the cause or nature of
The mechanic diagnosed the problem with the engine.
: to identify a disease from its signs and symptoms : to make a diagnosis
Examples of diagnose in a Sentence
The test is used to help in diagnosing heart disease.
Thousands of new cases have been diagnosed in the past year.
The doctor was unable to diagnose the skin condition.
a new doctor with little experience diagnosing patients
The mechanic was unable to diagnose the problem.
Recent Examples on the Web
She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer two years later.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
King Charles' Cancer Diagnosis Harry's approach seemed to hit a turning point in February 2024 after King Charles announced he had been diagnosed with cancer.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
That's when Hausman, with an infant to care for, was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Since then, concerns have resurfaced and grown after a beloved teacher died a year ago and another teacher was diagnosed with breast cancer late last year.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for diagnose
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
King Charles' Cancer Diagnosis Harry's approach seemed to hit a turning point in February 2024 after King Charles announced he had been diagnosed with cancer.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
That's when Hausman, with an infant to care for, was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Since then, concerns have resurfaced and grown after a beloved teacher died a year ago and another teacher was diagnosed with breast cancer late last year.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for diagnose
Cite this Entry
“Diagnose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diagnose. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diagnose
verb
di·ag·nose
ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs
-ˌnōz
-ˌnōz
ˌdī-ig-ˈnōs,
-ˈnōz
diagnosed; diagnosing
: to recognize by signs and symptoms : make a diagnosis
diagnose a disease
diagnose a play in football
Medical Definition
diagnose
verb
di·ag·nose
ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs
-ˌnōz
-ˌnōz
ˌdī-ig-ˈ,
-əg-
diagnosed; diagnosing
1
: to recognize (as a disease) by signs and symptoms
2
: to diagnose a disease or condition in
diagnosed the patient
: to make a diagnosis
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