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

Synonyms

• solve
• answer
• unravel
• resolve

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

Just last month, a series of public meetings was held throughout the region looking at the results of a study aimed at helping residents figure out how to cope with that rapid growth. —Juan Cordoba, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2025

There are no easy fixes, so figuring out how to cushion the harsh impact will be the basis of negotiations with other parties in the Japanese legislature, the Diet. —Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025

But Makovsky is concerned that a prolonged shutdown could cause disruptions as workers missing their paychecks must figure out how to pay for rent, groceries and other basic needs. —Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 4 Oct. 2025

Its use in figuring out what's likely to fly off racks next season involves mining data from many different places. —Chloe Veltman, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for figure out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

figure out

verb

1

: find out, discover

try to figure out a way to do it

2

: solve

figure out a problem