1
as in to discover
to come to an awareness of
was immediately able to ascertain that the girl was uncomfortable talking about her life at home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to find
to come upon after searching, study, or effort
ascertained that their old colonial-era house had once functioned as a tavern
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ascertain
There are several challenges that need to be overcome before this treatment can become available.
Safety and efficacy: The treatment will require extensive clinical trials to ascertain safety in humans.
—
Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025
To ascertain whether any real risk existed, in follow-up research the scientists asked a group of florists to wear cotton gloves for several hours on two consecutive days while trimming flowers and assembling bouquets and then analyzed what the gloves had picked up.
—Maryn McKenna, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2025
Project Phoenix enlists volunteers across western states to keep tabs on birds before, during and after fire events to ascertain how bird distributions are affected by smoke.
—Anton Sorokin, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025
Reuters also could not ascertain the number of individual holders of the token.
—Michelle Conlin and Tom Wilson, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascertain
Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025
To ascertain whether any real risk existed, in follow-up research the scientists asked a group of florists to wear cotton gloves for several hours on two consecutive days while trimming flowers and assembling bouquets and then analyzed what the gloves had picked up.
—Maryn McKenna, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2025
Project Phoenix enlists volunteers across western states to keep tabs on birds before, during and after fire events to ascertain how bird distributions are affected by smoke.
—Anton Sorokin, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025
Reuters also could not ascertain the number of individual holders of the token.
—Michelle Conlin and Tom Wilson, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascertain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ascertain
Verb
-
Keep reading to discover all the best Gucci sneakers, below.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Regardless of how the first seven or eight innings had gone, the Mets discovered another gear late, often against the opposing team’s most dominant relievers.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Currently on a six-game winning streak and 11 wins in 12 games, the Celtics suddenly find themselves with a legitimate chance to catch the Cleveland Cavaliers for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Auroral activity occurs where a planet's magnetic fields converge into its atmosphere, so Neptune’s auroras are found far from its rotational poles.—
Robert Z. Pearlman,
Space.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Inside, the floor and ceiling are realized in matching high-gloss black lacquer wood texture, while custom wood tables in the same material rise from the floor.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Here is what most people do not realize: utilities must ensure these lines maintain safe clearances from the ground, trees, and buildings even during these maximum sag conditions.—
Anna Broughel,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The ability to learn from missteps and continue forward is often what separates successful innovators from the rest.—
Mark Nevins,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Climb to the top of the lookout tower for bird’s-eye views of the historic district, and learn the town’s history at the hands-on cultural interpretive museum.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Comments James Cameron has unveiled the first official footage from Avatar: Fire and Ash, though the general public may have to wait a little longer to see it.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Columbia University was the first college to see its funding slashed – by $400 million – as part of the president’s threats to cut federal money to colleges accused of tolerating antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023.—
Samantha Waldenberg, Carma Hassan and Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The historically black university located in Virginia also entered the locker room with a 32-30 lead at halftime.—
Chantz Martin,
Fox News,
23 Mar. 2025
-
The pool is part of a health and leisure club located in the stand.—
Tom Burrows,
The Athletic,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
At the time of her death, neighbors didn’t report hearing any kind of commotion coming from Jamison’s trailer, police said.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Rubio’s openness to hearing leaders out was welcomed, sources said.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The election will determine the ideological balance of the highest state court.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Those additional tariffs vary and were determined by looking at the rules in those countries around U.S. exports, according to the White House.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ascertain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ascertain. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share