figure out

verb

figured out; figuring out; figures out
Synonyms of figure outnext

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.
One senior official told reporters over the weekend that businesses need to take a greater lead in helping policymakers figure out which tech challenges are worth solving and in evaluating research outcomes. Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026 Cuevas, who accompanied the Galvez family on that 2014 Florida trip and helped rent the van to give those half-dozen children an unforgettable day at the beach, was trying to figure out a way to celebrate his friend’s upcoming birthday when word came Tony had died. Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026 The Legislature has less than a month in this year’s session to figure out how to meet a July 1 deadline to stop counting votes using QR codes. Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 10 Mar. 2026 Meanwhile, others can be frustrating as players navigate the subspace and figure out how these labyrinthine and abstract areas connect to the real interdimensional worlds. Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for figure out

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of figure out was in 1825

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Figure out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/figure%20out. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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

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