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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Recent Examples of figuring out
Part of the motivation was figuring out how to make something cinematic without having to raise millions of dollars to make a movie.
—
Ivy Pochoda, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
For the packaging, the challenge was figuring out the best way to keep the Whopper in one piece.
—Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
One of the hardest parts of the job is figuring out how to monetize your platform.
—Corey Buhay, Outside, 26 Feb. 2026
With three games remaining, Texas will have to find it from somewhere and that means figuring out how to get some stops.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
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
Ivy Pochoda, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
For the packaging, the challenge was figuring out the best way to keep the Whopper in one piece.
—Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
One of the hardest parts of the job is figuring out how to monetize your platform.
—Corey Buhay, Outside, 26 Feb. 2026
With three games remaining, Texas will have to find it from somewhere and that means figuring out how to get some stops.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for figuring out
Verb
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Modeling plasma behavior at those conditions involves solving equations across multiple dimensions and charge states, representing trillions of mathematical particles.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
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More than a month has passed since Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson-area home, and despite little public progress in the case, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators are making progress on solving the mystery.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On the doorstep of a pivotal, final week and with its season in serious danger of unraveling, USC basketball’s leading scorer has been dismissed from the program.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
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As clever as the king, Penelope sits at her loom each night unraveling the day’s work.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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During his testimony, Bill Clinton denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, and he was described as being largely relaxed while answering questions.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Feb. 2026
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Then a second panel will have Abel answering questions with BNSF CEO Katie Farmer and NetJets CEO Adam Johnson, who now helps oversee all of Berkshire’s consumer, service and retail businesses.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In January, a Crossroads staff member was fired after police told the church that the staff member allegedly secretly filmed women working out at Crunch Fitness in Oakley.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
28 Feb. 2026
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Everybody’s used to working out and then going straight to work.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Trump, as personalist and improvisational as Mohammed bin Salman, has no interest in resolving that identity crisis.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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The election of reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian in 2024 on a platform of reengaging with the world and resolving Iran’s nuclear standoff brought hope of reinvigorating Iran’s economy and reintegrating the Islamic Republic into the international community.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Figuring out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/figuring%20out. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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