figure out

verb

figured out; figuring out; figures out

transitive verb

1
: discover, determine
try to figure out a way to do it
2
: solve, fathom
figure out a problem

Examples of figure out in a Sentence

a book of brainteasers that even a really clever person won't have an easy time figuring out
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
All of that plus an injury to Tyler Herro and four new faces on the Heat’s standard roster has coach Erik Spoelstra and his staff with plenty to figure out. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025 Some families are still trying to figure out how to move forward a year after the storm. Chelsea Torres, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025 Evan Adlman, executive vice president of commercial sales and revenue operations at AMC Networks, talked about the current challenge of the TV landscape is figuring out how to get their content in front of as many viewers as possible due to the current model being extremely fragmented. Giana Levy, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025 Attorneys figured out months ago what percentage of any settlement or jury award each plaintiff should receive, because those dollar figures were part of the mediation and settlement negotiations, Stirata said. Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for figure out

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of figure out was in 1600

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Figure out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/figure%20out. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

figure out

verb
1
: find out, discover
try to figure out a way to do it
2
: solve
figure out a problem

More from Merriam-Webster on figure out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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