ascertain
pronunciation
How to pronounce ascertain in British English:
UK [ˌæsəˈteɪn]
How to pronounce ascertain in American English:
US [ˌæsərˈteɪn]
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- Verb:
- 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
Word Origin
- ascertain (v.)
- early 15c., "to inform, to give assurance," from Anglo-French acerteiner, Old French acertener "to assure, certify" (13c.), from a "to" (see ad-) + certain "certain" (see certain). Modern meaning of "find out for sure by experiment or investigation" is first attested 1794. Related: Ascertained; ascertaining.
Example
- 1. There were favorite colors to ascertain .
- 2. In galactic collisions like this the outcome can be difficult to ascertain .
- 3. You should also ascertain early on what risk measures are used to gauge this performance .
- 4. Scientists have conducted many experiments to ascertain which animals can see in colour - and made some surprising discoveries .
- 5. Results were initially inconclusive . There were just too many variables to ascertain whether cloud seeding actually weakened a hurricane .