Phrase guide

figure out

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Examples

  • As soon as I figure out what is wrong with my car, I will fix it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To calculate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Examples

  • We'd already figured out that the trip would cost $1,000.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • did you solve the problem?
  • Work out your problems with the boss
  • this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out
  • did you get it?
  • Did you get my meaning?
  • He could not work the math problem

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: solve, work out, puzzle out, lick, work

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: understand

Narrower terms: answer, resolve, riddle, strike, guess, infer, break

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

55 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: baş açmaq — come to understand
  • Catalan: deduir — come to understand
  • Chinese Mandarin: 弄清楚 (nòng qīngchǔ) — come to understand
  • Danish: finde ud af — come to understand
  • Dutch: uitvogelen — come to understand
  • Dutch: er achter komen — come to understand
  • Dutch: ontcijferen — come to understand
  • Dutch: doorhebben — come to understand
  • Finnish: tajuta — come to understand
  • Finnish: hoksata — come to understand
  • Finnish: selvittää — come to understand
  • French: cerner — come to understand
  • Galician: comprender — come to understand
  • Galician: captar — come to understand
  • Galician: adiviñar — come to understand
  • Galician: darse conta — come to understand
  • German: herausfinden — come to understand
  • Greek: βγάζω νόημα (vgázo nóima) — come to understand
  • Hebrew: הֵבִין — come to understand
  • Hebrew: מצא תשובה — come to understand
  • Hungarian: rájön — come to understand
  • Indonesian: mengerti — come to understand
  • Indonesian: menemukan — come to understand
  • Indonesian: menemukan solusi — come to understand
  • Italian: scoprire — come to understand
  • Italian: rendersi conto — come to understand
  • Italian: dedurre — come to understand
  • Norwegian Bokmål: finne ut — come to understand
  • Polish: dochodzić do — come to understand
  • Polish: dojść do — come to understand
  • Polish: rozwiązywać — come to understand
  • Polish: rozwiązać — come to understand
  • Portuguese: descobrir — come to understand
  • Portuguese: deduzir — come to understand
  • Portuguese: entender — come to understand
  • Portuguese: dar-se conta — come to understand
  • Portuguese: desvendar — come to understand
  • Russian: разбира́ться (razbirátʹsja) — come to understand
  • Russian: разобра́ться (razobrátʹsja) — come to understand
  • Russian: постига́ть (postigátʹ) — come to understand
  • Russian: пости́гнуть (postígnutʹ) — come to understand
  • Russian: пости́чь (postíčʹ) — come to understand
  • Spanish: averiguar — come to understand
  • Spanish: captar — come to understand
  • Spanish: desentrañar — come to understand
  • Spanish: lograr saber — come to understand
  • Spanish: hallar cómo — come to understand
  • Spanish: intentar determinar — come to understand
  • Swedish: lista ut — come to understand
  • Swedish: klura ut — come to understand
  • Turkish: açığa çıkarmak — come to understand
  • Ukrainian: збагнути (zbahnuty) — come to understand
  • Ukrainian: зрозуміти (zrozumity) — come to understand
  • Ukrainian: розібратися (rozibratysja) — come to understand
  • Ukrainian: додуматися (dodumatysja) — come to understand