as in solving
to find an answer for through reasoning
a book of brainteasers that even a really clever person won't have an easy time figuring out
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of figuring out
The warmer months are spent planning the ski season, booking return trips to favorite mountains, and figuring out which resorts to explore next.
—
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Of the many obstacles to overcome before any Artemis astronauts begin moonwalking, perhaps the most simple yet significant is figuring out what to wear.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Residents are still figuring out how the two groups should support each other.
—Samuel O’Neal 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2026
In an era when IP is king at the theatrical box office, particularly when it’s encroached upon by streaming, what’s the trick to figuring out if an original project can play to a mass audience or a Gen Z one?
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026
The stats are solid — a franchise-record 3,942 passing yards, 27 touchdowns to only seven interceptions — and the eye test shows someone figuring out how to do this job at the highest level.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The story is very much a journey of discovery for Colin, Harry Melling’s character — figuring out the rules of this sub-dom relationship and what Ray is asking of him.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026
Some offer a full refund to passengers while others are still figuring out how the reduction in flights will impact them.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 7 Nov. 2025
While the benefits of T can be amazing, figuring out the side effects can also take trial and error.
—Quispe López, Them., 24 Oct. 2025
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Of the many obstacles to overcome before any Artemis astronauts begin moonwalking, perhaps the most simple yet significant is figuring out what to wear.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Residents are still figuring out how the two groups should support each other.
—Samuel O’Neal 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2026
In an era when IP is king at the theatrical box office, particularly when it’s encroached upon by streaming, what’s the trick to figuring out if an original project can play to a mass audience or a Gen Z one?
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026
The stats are solid — a franchise-record 3,942 passing yards, 27 touchdowns to only seven interceptions — and the eye test shows someone figuring out how to do this job at the highest level.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The story is very much a journey of discovery for Colin, Harry Melling’s character — figuring out the rules of this sub-dom relationship and what Ray is asking of him.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026
Some offer a full refund to passengers while others are still figuring out how the reduction in flights will impact them.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 7 Nov. 2025
While the benefits of T can be amazing, figuring out the side effects can also take trial and error.
—Quispe López, Them., 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for figuring out
Verb
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The research team focused on solving this problem at the hardware level rather than relying only on software improvements.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
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Implicit learning uses different parts of the brain than solving problems or understanding the meanings of words, Albert said.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And Tony Day is the key to unraveling that plot and Sweetpea’s got the bit between her teeth.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Feb. 2026
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By 2017, her private life was unraveling amid family tensions, abusive coaching and hidden trauma.—
Ashlee Conour,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The car rides commuting to and from the theater are filled with answering texts and emails, while also resting her voice.—
Leigh Scheps,
Parents,
13 Feb. 2026
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After answering a user query about Santa Fe, the chatbox provided a link to a desert cottage in the locality.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For the past two decades or so, Zurek has been working out how that happens.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
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Some of them lived together, were working out together.—
Matt Zahn,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rød-Larsen and Juul were among those involved in facilitating the landmark Oslo Accords aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the 1990s.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The state also entered into a handful of Assurances of Voluntary Compliance, or AVC agreements, which require companies involved in CTDPA violations to provide a clear plan for resolving incidents and ensuring data security.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Figuring out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/figuring%20out. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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