figure out

verb

figured out; figuring out; figures out
Synonyms of figure outnext

transitive verb

1
: discover, determine
try to figure out a way to do it
2
: solve, fathom
figure out a problem

Synonyms of figure out

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Examples of figure out in a Sentence

a book of brainteasers that even a really clever person won't have an easy time figuring out
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
These two teams meet for the third time, and both teams need to figure out opposite things. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Part of his job was scavenging through popular songbooks and figuring out how to present household-name songs for new audiences. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2026 Fewer tracking mechanisms mean fewer marketers can figure out how people interact with their ads. — Ivan Guzenko, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Let’s set your ego at the door and figure out what’s going on with just some of the techniques that happened today. — Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for figure out

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of figure out was in 1825

Rhymes for figure out

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Browse Nearby Words

figure on
figure out
figurer
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Cite this Entry

“Figure out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/figure%20out. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

figure out

verb
1
: find out, discover
try to figure out a way to do it
2
: solve
figure out a problem
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