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.
Photograph from Lionsgate One recent afternoon, Fuqua convened a meeting at his office to figure out how, exactly, this campaign would be brought to life. Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026 This one tries to figure out the man behind the 30 Rockefeller curtain. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026 In most cases, the animal figures out something isn’t right and backs off. Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026 Scientists in the 1980s and ’90s figured out that when the C ring rotates, the flagellum does too. Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 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 21 Apr. 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

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