evaluate

verb

eval·​u·​ate i-ˈval-yə-ˌwāt How to pronounce evaluate (audio)
-yü-ˌāt
evaluated; evaluating

transitive verb

1
: to determine or fix the value of
2
: to determine the significance, worth, or condition of usually by careful appraisal and study
evaluative adjective
evaluator noun
Choose the Right Synonym for evaluate

estimate, appraise, evaluate, value, rate, assess mean to judge something with respect to its worth or significance.

estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out.

estimated the crowd at two hundred

appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment.

having their house appraised

evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary.

evaluate a student's work

value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment.

a watercolor valued by the donor at $500

rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values.

a highly rated restaurant

assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action.

officials are trying to assess the damage

Example Sentences

We need to evaluate our options. evaluate a training program as effective
Recent Examples on the Web The nest will be assessed and evaluated during off season. Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 1 June 2023 Streaming companies like Netflix and Disney are evaluating their streaming offerings after years of eating high costs to grow market share and develop content. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 1 June 2023 Here are the seven top reasons Cinko said your teen should be evaluated: 1. The Enquirer, 1 June 2023 Without screening all newborns for CMV, those who appear normal at birth will not be fully evaluated, considered for treatment or monitored for effects that develop later, such as hearing loss. Laura Gibson, The Conversation, 31 May 2023 Our Testing Process Our team of experts purchased 21 different beach towels to test in the real world, evaluating each towel for factors like quality, durability, texture, and absorbency. Molly Blanco, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2023 Participants completed a survey about the quality of their diets at the beginning of the study and then performed online activities at home to evaluate the short-term memory controlled by the hippocampus part of the brain. L'oreal Thompson Payton, Fortune Well, 31 May 2023 When evaluating some diseases such as hepatitis, testing for specific antibodies is routine. Trisha Pasricha Md And Mph, Anchorage Daily News, 29 May 2023 Time magazine asked a group of corporate lawyers to evaluate legal subplots, the Financial Times enlisted corporate experts to analyze its business deals, and the New York Times deployed one of its critics to interpret the unspoken role of food in the show. Norman Vanamee, Town & Country, 29 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'evaluate.' 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

back-formation from evaluation, from French évaluation, from Middle French evaluacion, from esvaluer to evaluate, from e- + value value

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of evaluate was in 1842

Dictionary Entries Near evaluate

Cite this Entry

“Evaluate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evaluate. Accessed 10 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

evaluate

verb
eval·​u·​ate i-ˈval-yə-ˌwāt How to pronounce evaluate (audio)
evaluated; evaluating
1
: to find the value of
evaluate a mathematical expression
2
: to decide the value or worth of after study
evaluate a new program
evaluation noun
evaluative adjective
evaluator noun

More from Merriam-Webster on evaluate

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