ascertaining

verb

present participle of ascertain
1
as in realizing
to come to an awareness of was immediately able to ascertain that the girl was uncomfortable talking about her life at home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in finding
to come upon after searching, study, or effort ascertained that their old colonial-era house had once functioned as a tavern

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ascertaining Grocery store errands become more efficient, and visits to coffee shops, restaurants, and bars require ascertaining where the nearest bomb shelter lies. — Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026 This is the validation process and is tremendously crucial for ascertaining whether the RFT has made a positive significant difference in the AI model’s domain specificity. — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ascertaining
  1. realizing
  2. finding
  3. discovering
  4. learning
  5. seeing
  6. locating
  7. hearing
  8. determining
Verb
  • An adult who arrived at the pool moments later called 911 after realizing Cornelious was under the water, deputies said.
    — Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 13 July 2026
  • So as the picks start coming off the board and realizing there’s a little bit more opportunity to get him, our excitement level climbed.
    — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of realizing
Verb
  • The best swimsuit for you should naturally align with your everyday style, but finding one is easier said than done.
    — Alexandra Malmed, InStyle, 16 July 2026
  • Those with more modest means are falling further behind and, perhaps most alarmingly, finding fewer pathways to the economic mobility that has helped define the American dream.
    — Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Definition of finding
Verb
  • The discomfort of boredom often becomes the spark for curiosity, creativity, independence and discovering lifelong interests.
    — Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 16 July 2026
  • Originally launched in 1955 before undergoing several iterations, the show is responsible for discovering and launching young talent including Britney Spears, Ryan Gosling, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 16 July 2026
Definition of discovering
Verb
  • Zhao said the controller even outperformed the software supplied by the robot’s manufacturer, demonstrating the value of combining machine-learning research with real-world robotics.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026
  • The system relies on five microelectrode arrays surgically installed in Thomas’ brain, which machine learning algorithms then interpret brain signals denoting movement with nearly 85 percent accuracy.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 July 2026
Definition of learning
Verb
  • True, nothing so grand as a massive dragon and naval battle took place, but seeing Rhaenyra start to change into someone almost unrecognizable from her younger, more innocent self was compelling in a deeper way.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • Hernandez, 29, a contractor based in Franklin, about 20 miles south of Nashville, undertook the $380 project with furniture from HomeGoods after seeing his pet spend most of her life tucked away in a little corner.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of seeing
Verb
  • Police are seeking the public’s help in locating a French bulldog who was stolen during a burglary in May, authorities said.
    — Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 15 July 2026
  • Enforcing judgments against foreign officials often depends on locating assets that can legally be seized in the United States or other jurisdictions.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Definition of locating
Verb
  • Handing the survivor her jewelry and hearing her story a few days later gave Dondi and her team of volunteers a reassuring nudge to push forward with their work.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • During Murdaugh’s first status hearing on Monday, June 29, Judge Debra McCaslin did not rule on the DNA evidence, telling defense attorneys to clarify if the sample was viable.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of hearing
Verb
  • The incident was recorded on a home security camera, which assisted Deputy State Fire Marshals in determining the cause of the fire.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Chief Estella Patterson told committee members officers have a hard time determining the exact age of juveniles without an ID, which delays the investigation and prolongs police interactions.
    — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026
Definition of determining

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ascertaining
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Cite this Entry

“Ascertaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ascertaining. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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