Definition of ASCERTAIN

ascertain

Verb

  • establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
  • be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something
  • find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
  • learn or discover with certainty
  • To find out definitely; to discover or establish.
  • To make (someone) certain or confident about something; to inform.
  • To look for something lost.
  • To establish, to prove.
  • To ensure or effect.

Examples

  • As soon as we ascertain what the situation is, we can plan how to proceed.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English acerteynen, from Old French acertener, from a- (“to, towards”) + certener (“make sure of”), from the adjective certain, from Latin certus (“certain, fixed”). Compare to Spanish acertar.

Synonyms

assure, check, control, determine, ensure, find, find out, insure, learn, see, see to it, watch, discern, discover, establish, work out

Scrabble Score: 11

ascertain: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
ascertain: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
ascertain: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

ascertain: valid Words With Friends Word