Ascertain
/ˌæsərˈteɪn/
verbIntermediate📊CommonAction
1 meaning1 question
Definitions
1
To find (something) out for certain; to make sure of.
/ˌæsərˈteɪn/
verbneutralIntermediate
Action
To find something out for certain; to make sure of.
We need to ascertain the truth before we proceed.
💡 Simply: To find out something for sure.
More Examples
2
The detective worked diligently to ascertain the identity of the culprit.
How It's Used
Investigation
"Police are trying to ascertain the facts of the case."
Scientific Research
"The researchers ascertained the effectiveness of the new drug through rigorous trials."
From Old French ascertener, from as- (to) + certain.
The word has been used in formal contexts since the 16th century, maintaining its meaning of finding something out definitively.
Memory tip
As-certain - to make certain by finding out.
Word Origin
Original meaning
"to make certain"
Base: certain
ascertain the truthascertain the factsascertain the cause
Common misspellings
ascertainascertianascertaine
Practice
Usage
10%Spoken
90%Written