evaluate

verb

eval·​u·​ate i-ˈval-yə-ˌwāt 

-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

i-ˈval-yə-ˌwā-tiv 

-yü-ˌā-

adjective

evaluator

i-ˈval-yə-ˌwā-tər 

-yü-ˌā-

noun

Synonyms of evaluate

• assess
• estimate
• value

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

Examples of evaluate in a Sentence

We need to evaluate our options.

evaluate a training program as effective

Recent Examples on the Web

Those requests must be tied to specific needs and response actions and are evaluated through the state's Drought Task Force. —Christa Swanson, CBS News, 8 June 2026

Once a referral is received, police evaluate whether the individual is at real risk of radicalisation. —The Week Uk, TheWeek, 7 June 2026

The Forest Service has denied that the pending closures are intended to force workers to quit and has suggested that employees in the facilities being evaluated for shut down would be consolidated into one location in Colorado. —Chiara Eisner, NPR, 6 June 2026

The Federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) requires that ER doctors evaluate and stabilize anyone who walks through the door, regardless of ability to pay. —Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

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

Phrases Containing evaluate

• re-evaluate
• self-evaluate

Rhymes for evaluate

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

Kids Definition

evaluate

verb

eval·​u·​ate i-ˈval-yə-ˌwāt 

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

-ˌval-yə-ˈwā-shən 

noun

evaluative

-ˈval-yə-ˌwāt-iv 

adjective

evaluator

-ˌwāt-ər 

noun