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 of figure out

• 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

The nation is now blanketed in a patchwork of differing rules as schools struggle to figure out how to regulate generative AI chatbots. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026

Or is education to teach our students how to think, how to approach problems and figure out solutions and live in society, yes, aided by technology, but ultimately in their own right? — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

Now Spencer Arrighetti will likely have to stretch out, and the Jays will figure out the final spot. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

As Ortega figured out how to create an account to communicate with Burciaga, other detainees began giving him their information. — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1825, 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