What does it mean to evaluate Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ɛˈvæliweɪt/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun or Verb

Definition

To determine or decide on the quality or amount of something by examining and considering various aspects of it, or To provide an assessment or opinion of something’s worth or importance, typically in order to make a judgment or decision.

Examples

• The manager will evaluate the team’s performance and decide whether to make any changes.
• The critics were hired to evaluate the movie’s cinematography and editing.

Synonyms

• Assess
• Evaluate
• Judge
• Analyze

Antonyms

• Ignores

Etymology

The word ‘evaluate’ comes from the Latin words ‘evaluare,’ which means ‘to assess’ or ‘to value.’ Its root word ‘valuere’ means ‘to value’ or ‘to be worth.’ The word has its origins in the 15th century from the Latin verb.

Usage Notes

Evaluate is often used in academic and professional settings to describe the process of assessing the quality or value of something. It can be used interchangeably with ‘judge’ or ‘assess.’ However, it’s more precise in conveying a nuanced understanding or critical evaluation rather than a simple judgment.

Cultural References

The word ‘evaluate’ has been referenced in various cultural contexts, such as in literature (e.g., in the novel “1984” by George Orwell, where it’s used to describe the Party’s control over citizens’ evaluations) and in film (e.g., in the movie “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” where it’s used in a scene where the protagonist evaluates evidence).

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

Some common idiomatic expressions that include the word ‘evaluate’ are:

• On the level of expectation
• At the evaluation stage

Related Words or Phrases

Words and phrases closely related to ‘evaluate’ include:

• Appraise
• Assess
• Analyze
• Judge

Collocations

Common word combinations with ‘evaluate’ are:

• Evaluate performance
• Weekly evaluation meeting
• Evaluate opinions
• Final evaluation

Frequency of Use

The word ‘evaluate’ is commonly used in formal and professional contexts, such as business, academia, and government. Its frequency of use in modern language is moderate, but it’s becoming increasingly popular as more people engage in critical thinking and decision-making.

Common Misspellings

Common misspellings of ‘evaluate’ include:

• Evaluat
• Evalluate
• Evauluate
• Wevaluate