determination
dih-tur-mih-NAY-shuhn
Determination (noun) means Firmness of purpose; the will to keep going despite difficulty. Example: “It took real determination to finish the marathon injured.”
noun
1
Firmness of purpose; the will to keep going despite difficulty.
"It took real determination to finish the marathon injured."
"Her determination to succeed impressed everyone on the team."
"With great determination, the little boy kept climbing the steep hill."
2
The act of finding something out, or the official decision reached.
"The lab's determination of the sample's age took several weeks."
"The judge's determination of the case was announced on Friday."
"Careful determination of the cause of the fault saved the company money."
How to use determination
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither strong willpower, or the act/result of officially working something out.
Common pairings
sheer determination
determination to win
determination of the cause
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Word forms
- Plural
- determinations
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It took real _____ to finish the marathon injured.
Etymology
From Old French determinacion, from Latin determinatio, ultimately from determinare ("to fix, settle").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for determination
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for determination →
Frequently asked questions
What does “determination” mean?
The word “determination” means firmness of purpose; the will to keep going despite difficulty. In plain terms, either strong willpower, or the act/result of officially working something out.
How do you pronounce “determination”?
“Determination” is pronounced dih-tur-mih-NAY-shuhn (/dɪˌtɜːmɪˈneɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “determination” in a sentence?
Here is “determination” used in a sentence: “It took real determination to finish the marathon injured.”
What part of speech is “determination”?
“Determination” is a noun.
Where does the word “determination” come from?
The word “determination” comes from Latin. From Old French determinacion, from Latin determinatio, ultimately from determinare ("to fix, settle").
Is “determination” a common word?
“Determination” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “determination” have?
“Determination” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: firmness of purpose; the will to keep going despite difficulty.
What is the difference between "determination" and "perseverance"?
Determination is the firmness of purpose and will to keep going despite difficulty. Perseverance emphasises the sustained effort of continuing over time, so determination is often the resolve that drives perseverance.
What is the difference between "determination" and "determined"?
"Determination" is the noun for firmness of purpose, as in "she showed great determination." "Determined" is the adjective describing a person who has that quality, as in "she was determined to finish."
What is the difference between "determination" and "motivation"?
Motivation is the reason or drive that makes you want to do something, while determination is the firm resolve that keeps you going once you have started. You can be motivated to begin a task but need determination to finish it despite obstacles.
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