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 Cuarón recalls threatening to shoot a scene inside a vehicle using a green screen if Lubezki couldn’t figure out a way to do it without cuts. Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024 Businesses will want to define goals and objectives, and figure out whether to build or buy an AI model for a deployment. John Werner, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 Swapping doesn’t use up a turn, and figuring out the best time and place to move each ally plays an important role in the toughest fights. Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2024 The closure of trying to finally figure out what's wrong with me. Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for figure out 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'figure out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near figure out

Cite this Entry

“Figure out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/figure%20out. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.

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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