YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

ascertain

Verb

IPA /ˌæsəˈteɪn/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

To find out something with confidence by checking information, asking questions or making a careful effort to investigate.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

ascertain/ˌæsəˈteɪn/

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

We called the station to ascertain whether the last train was running.
The researcher interviewed residents to ascertain how the changes affected them.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

We called the station to ________ whether the last train was running.

Show the answer

ascertain — To find out something with confidence by checking information, asking questions or making a careful effort to investigate.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “ascertain” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

To find out something with confidence by checking information, asking questions or making a careful effort to investigate.

Compare: We called the station to ascertain whether the last train was running.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From Old French acertener, meaning to make certain.

Did you know?

Ascertain is followed directly by the information sought: ascertain the facts, without about.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.