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
This concentration was then used to ascertain the time-dependent effect of both cannabinoids.
—Paul McClure 14, New Atlas, 14 June 2025
Chemist Willard Libby developed this method — used to ascertain the age of organic materials — in the late 1940s at the University of Chicago.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
The states are particularly worried about how to ascertain citizenship when a new resident comes from another state, according to Noah Purcell, solicitor general for the state of Washington.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 15 May 2025
While buyers and sellers involved in the transaction could not be immediately ascertained, CNBC-TV18, citing sources familiar with the matter, noted that South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Company was likely among the sellers in the deal.
—Amala Balakrishner, CNBC, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascertain
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Paul McClure 14, New Atlas, 14 June 2025
Chemist Willard Libby developed this method — used to ascertain the age of organic materials — in the late 1940s at the University of Chicago.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
The states are particularly worried about how to ascertain citizenship when a new resident comes from another state, according to Noah Purcell, solicitor general for the state of Washington.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 15 May 2025
While buyers and sellers involved in the transaction could not be immediately ascertained, CNBC-TV18, citing sources familiar with the matter, noted that South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Company was likely among the sellers in the deal.
—Amala Balakrishner, CNBC, 2 June 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 24 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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