ascertain
verb
as·cer·tain
ˌa-sər-ˈtān 
ascertained; ascertaining; ascertains
1
: to find out or learn with certainty
ascertain the truth
trying to ascertain the cause of the fire
information that can be easily ascertained on the Internet
2
archaic
: to make certain, exact, or precise
Examples of ascertain in a Sentence
We look at digital media—images, audio and video—and we try to ascertain whether or not they've been manipulated. We use mathematical and computational techniques to detect alterations in them.
—
Claudia Dreifus, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2007
Currently, an official trying to ascertain road damage in the aftermath of an earthquake might have to keep one eye on the TV news while listening to both radio traffic reports and the police scanner. Since most of these data are available in digital form, the software could take them all in, process them and present a report outlining the best evacuation routes.
—Kevin Hogan, Technology Review, April 2002
With an equation linking the money wage to prices, the degree of inflation could be ascertained.
—Sidney Weintraub, Modern Economic Thought, (1977) 1993
Claudia Dreifus, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2007
Currently, an official trying to ascertain road damage in the aftermath of an earthquake might have to keep one eye on the TV news while listening to both radio traffic reports and the police scanner. Since most of these data are available in digital form, the software could take them all in, process them and present a report outlining the best evacuation routes.
—Kevin Hogan, Technology Review, April 2002
With an equation linking the money wage to prices, the degree of inflation could be ascertained.
—Sidney Weintraub, Modern Economic Thought, (1977) 1993
Recent Examples on the Web
Consumers who know how much tariffs have increased prices can ascertain whether price hikes exceed the amount of the tariffs.
—Jeff Sovern, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2025
The best indicator for quality versus price point can be ascertained from combing through reviews of consumers that have made the purchase before you.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 20 May 2025
As a result, satellite trackers on the ground were unable to ascertain satellite positions and determine collision risk.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 9 May 2025
But Carsten Jung, head of Macroeconomics and AI at the Institute for Public Policy Research, told Newsweek that new advances could mean some counselling jobs could be under threat, and the exact extent of the impact cannot be ascertained yet.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascertain
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Jeff Sovern, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2025
The best indicator for quality versus price point can be ascertained from combing through reviews of consumers that have made the purchase before you.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 20 May 2025
As a result, satellite trackers on the ground were unable to ascertain satellite positions and determine collision risk.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 9 May 2025
But Carsten Jung, head of Macroeconomics and AI at the Institute for Public Policy Research, told Newsweek that new advances could mean some counselling jobs could be under threat, and the exact extent of the impact cannot be ascertained yet.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascertain
Cite this Entry
“Ascertain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ascertain. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ascertain
verb
as·cer·tain
ˌas-ər-ˈtān
: to learn with certainty : find out
could not ascertain the correct date
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