ascertain
To find out definitelyTo find out definitely; to discover or establish.
» I am going to ascertain the truth of the matter.
Meaning
5 senses(transitive)To find out definitely; to discover or establish.
As soon as we ascertain what the situation is, we can plan how to proceed.
feststellen
удостоверя́тьсяudostoverjátʹsja, удостове́ритьсяudostovéritʹsja, убежда́тьсяubeždátʹsja
устано́влюватиustanóvljuvaty, установи́тиustanovýty, встано́влюватиvstanóvljuvaty
find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
(Yorkshire, dated, intransitive)To look for something lost.
(obsolete, transitive)To make (someone) certain or confident about something; to inform.
be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something
(archaic, transitive)To establish, to prove.
(archaic, transitive)To ensure or effect.
Examples
14 sentencesI am going to ascertain the truth of the matter.
I ascertained that he was still alive.
I've ascertained the identity of the victim.
It is difficult to ascertain what really happened.
ruТрудно установить, что произошло на самом деле.
We will first ascertain the cause of the disaster.
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English acerteynen, from Old French acertener, from a- (“to, towards”) + certeFrom 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.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
ascertains, ascertaining, ascertained, ascertained| Base form | ascertain · to ascertain |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | ascertains |
| Present participle | ascertaining |
| Past simple | ascertained |
| Past participle | ascertained |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
17 synonyms- establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study:determinefindfind out
- find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort:determinecheckfind outseewatchlearn
- be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something:seecheckinsuresee to itensurecontrolassure
Word family
8 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle