diagnose
verb
di·ag·nose
ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs 
-ˌnōz,
ˌdī-ig-ˈnōs
-ˈnōz,
-əg-
diagnosed; diagnosing
1
a
: to recognize (something, such as a disease) by signs and symptoms
The other method of diagnosing gallstones is through an ultrasound examination, which has the advantages of being simple, safe and quick.—
G. Timothy Johnson
G. Timothy JohnsonPulmonary embolus was diagnosed in two of the actively treated patients …—Richard D. Sautter et al.
Richard D. Sautter et al.
b
: to recognize a disease or condition in
The physicist and cosmologist was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease when he was a 21-year-old student at Cambridge University.—Maria Cheng
Maria Cheng2
: to analyze the cause or nature of
The mechanic diagnosed the problem with the engine.
: to identify a disease from its signs and symptoms : to make a diagnosis
Examples of diagnose in a Sentence
The test is used to help in diagnosing heart disease.
Thousands of new cases have been diagnosed in the past year.
The doctor was unable to diagnose the skin condition.
a new doctor with little experience diagnosing patients
The mechanic was unable to diagnose the problem.
Recent Examples on the Web
Huang and her colleagues at UT Southwestern collected colon tissue samples from 19 patients diagnosed with colon cancer after age 50 and 14 patients diagnosed before age 50.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
My grandchild who’s in elementary school was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Yet a recent report from the American Heart Association found most people with AFib (62%) had no prior knowledge of the condition before being diagnosed.
—Tracy Yochum, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Samantha, who is using her first name to protect her privacy, has never been formally diagnosed with ADHD.
—Helena Kudiabor, SELF, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for diagnose
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Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
My grandchild who’s in elementary school was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Yet a recent report from the American Heart Association found most people with AFib (62%) had no prior knowledge of the condition before being diagnosed.
—Tracy Yochum, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Samantha, who is using her first name to protect her privacy, has never been formally diagnosed with ADHD.
—Helena Kudiabor, SELF, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for diagnose
Cite this Entry
“Diagnose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diagnose. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diagnose
verb
di·ag·nose
ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs
-ˌnōz
-ˌnōz
ˌdī-ig-ˈnōs,
-ˈnōz
diagnosed; diagnosing
: to recognize by signs and symptoms : make a diagnosis
diagnose a disease
diagnose a play in football
Medical Definition
diagnose
verb
di·ag·nose
ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs
-ˌnōz
-ˌnōz
ˌdī-ig-ˈ,
-əg-
diagnosed; diagnosing
1
: to recognize (as a disease) by signs and symptoms
2
: to diagnose a disease or condition in
diagnosed the patient
: to make a diagnosis
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