Ascertain

/ˌæs.ərˈteɪn/

Meaning & Definition

verb

To find out or learn with certainty.

The detective worked tirelessly to ascertain the facts of the case.

To make sure of something.

We need to ascertain that the documents are in order before the meeting.

To determine the truth or accuracy of something.

The scientist sought to ascertain the effects of the new drug on patients.

To discover or understand.

He tried to ascertain what had caused the misunderstanding.

To verify or confirm.

I will ascertain the details of the event and get back to you.

Middle French 'acertainer', from Latin 'certus' meaning 'certain'.

ascertain the facts

To find out or verify the details of a situation.

ascertain the truth

To find out what is true or accurate.

ascertain one's feelings

To understand or determine how someone feels.

certify

To officially confirm or attest to something.

verify

To check or confirm the accuracy or truth of something.

validate

To confirm the legitimacy or correctness of something.

Get the scoop

I need to get the scoop on what really happened at the party.

Nail it down

Let’s nail down the details of our plan.