Dictionary Definition
ascertain
Verb
1 after a calculation, investigation, experiment,
survey, or study; "find the product of two numbers"; "The physicist
who found the elusive particle won the Nobel Prize" [syn: determine, find, find out]
2 be careful or certain to do something; make
certain of something; "He verified that the valves were closed";
"See that the curtains are closed"; "control the quality of the
product" [syn: see, check, insure, see to it,
ensure, control, assure]
3 find out, learn, or determine with certainty,
usually by making an inquiry or other effort; "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" [syn:
determine, check, find out,
see, watch, learn]
4 learn or discover with certainty
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
- (UK): /æsəˈteɪn/, /
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
afford proof of, appraise, ask, assure, be informed, become
acquainted with, bring home to, broaden the mind, catch on,
certify, cinch, clear up, clinch, consider, contemplate, cram the mind,
decide, demonstrate, determine, discover, dismiss all doubt,
ensure, establish, find, find out, find out about,
fix, follow, follow from, gain
knowledge, get, get at, get
hold of, have a case, hear,
hold good, hold water, inquire, inspect, insure, interrogate, learn, learn about, load the mind,
make a decision, make certain, make good, make no doubt, make no
mistake, make out, make sure, make sure of, nail down, observe, pick up information,
prove, prove to be, prove
true, query, question, reassure, remove all doubt,
resolve, see, see that, see to it, set at
rest, settle, settle the
matter, show, sort out,
study, survey, tumble, unearth, view, weigh