Ascertain Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/əˈstɜːrn/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Verb

Definition

To make certain or sure about something; to find out or establish the truth or facts of something.

Examples

• I will ensure that the data is accurate before ascertain the results.
• The detective worked hard to ascertain the whereabouts of the suspect.

Synonyms

• Determine
• Establish
• Verify

Antonyms

• Doubt
• Uncertainty
• Question

Additional Information

Ascertain is a verb that means to find out or confirm the truth or facts of something. It is often used in formal or professional contexts, such as in science, law, or business. The word is similar to determine, but ascertain implies a more thorough or rigorous process of investigation or verification.

In everyday language, ascertain is used to convey a sense of certainty or confidence about something. For example, “I have ascertained that the bus will arrive on time” means that you have found out and are certain that the bus will arrive at the expected time.

Ascertain is also often used in combination with other verbs, such as “ascertain the facts of a situation” or “ascertain the cause of the problem”.

Etymology

The word “ascertain” comes from the Old French “ascerner”, which means “to distinguish” or “to separate”. This is derived from the Latin “ascernere”, which means “to inspect” or “to examine”.

Usage Notes

Ascertain is often used to emphasize the importance of finding out or confirming the truth or facts of something. For example, “It is essential to ascertain the identity of the suspect before questioning them”.

In formal or professional contexts, ascertain may be used in combination with other verbs, such as “ascertain the facts of a situation” or “ascertain the cause of the problem”.

Cultural References

The word “ascertain” is used in many different contexts and cultures. For example, in law, ascertain is used to refer to the process of finding out or confirming the truth or facts of a case. In science, ascertain is used to refer to the process of verifying or confirming experimental results.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• Ascertain the facts of a situation
• Ascertain the cause of the problem
• Ascertain the identity of someone

Related Words or Phrases

• Determine
• Establish
• Verify
• Find out
• Confirm

Collocations

• Ascertain the truth
• Ascertain the facts
• Ascertain the cause
• Ascertain the identity

Frequency of Use

Ascertain is a relatively rare word, but it is used frequently in formal or professional contexts, such as in science, law, or business.

Common Misspellings

• Assertain
• Asertain
• Ascirten