Dictionary entry details
• ASCERTAIN (verb)
Meaning:
Establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
find out; determine; ascertain; find
Context examples:
find the product of two numbers / The physicist who found the elusive particle won the Nobel Prize
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ascertain"):
locate; situate (determine or indicate the place, site, or limits of, as if by an instrument or by a survey)
admeasure (determine the quantity of someone's share)
count; enumerate; number; numerate (determine the number or amount of)
refract (determine the refracting power of (a lens))
sequence (determine the order of constituents in)
redetermine (fix, find, or establish again)
rectify (math: determine the length of)
translate (determine the amino-acid sequence of a protein during its synthesis by using information on the messenger RNA)
gauge (determine the capacity, volume, or contents of by measurement and calculation)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE
Meaning:
Be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Synonyms:
insure; see to it; ascertain; ensure; check; assure; control; see
Context examples:
He verified that the valves were closed / See that the curtains are closed / control the quality of the product
Hypernyms (to "ascertain" is one way to...):
verify (confirm the truth of)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ascertain"):
proof; proofread (read for errors)
cover (maintain a check on; especially by patrolling)
spot-check (pick out random samples for examination in order to ensure high quality)
card (ask someone for identification to determine whether he or she is old enough to consume liquor)
cinch (make sure of)
cross-check (check out conflicting sources; crosscheck facts, for example)
double-check (check once more to be absolutely sure)
control (verify by using a duplicate register for comparison)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Meaning:
Find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
ascertain; find out; learn; watch; determine; see; check
Context examples:
I want to see whether she speaks French / See whether it works / find out if he speaks Russian / Check whether the train leaves on time
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ascertain"):
test (determine the presence or properties of (a substance))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE
Sentence example:
They ascertain whether there was a traffic accident
Meaning:
Learn or discover with certainty
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Hypernyms (to "ascertain" is one way to...):
discover; find out; get a line; get wind; get word; hear; learn; pick up; see (get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ascertain"):
price (ascertain or learn the price of)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Sentence example:
They ascertain that there was a traffic accident
