evaluate
ih-VALYUU-ayt
Evaluate (verb) means to carefully judge the value, quality, or significance of something. Example: “Before buying the house, we asked a surveyor to evaluate its condition.”
verb
1
To carefully judge the value, quality, or significance of something.
"Before buying the house, we asked a surveyor to evaluate its condition."
"The teacher evaluated each essay against a strict rubric."
"Doctors evaluated the patient's symptoms before diagnosis."
2
(mathematics/computing) To work out the numeric value of an expression.
"When you press enter, the spreadsheet evaluates the formula in that cell."
"To evaluate this expression, first work out the part in brackets."
"The calculator evaluates the formula and returns a result."
How to use evaluate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo assess or work out how good, true, or valuable something is.
Common pairings
evaluate performance
evaluate the evidence
evaluate an expression
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- evaluates
- Past tense
- evaluated
Fill the gap
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Before buying the house, we asked a surveyor to _____ its condition.
Etymology
A back-formation from evaluation, itself from French évaluation.
Related words
Rhymes for evaluate
See all rhymes for evaluate →Frequently asked questions
What does “evaluate” mean?
The word “evaluate” means to carefully judge the value, quality, or significance of something. In plain terms, to assess or work out how good, true, or valuable something is.
How do you pronounce “evaluate”?
“Evaluate” is pronounced ih-VALYUU-ayt (/ɪˈvæl.juˌeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “evaluate” in a sentence?
Here is “evaluate” used in a sentence: “The teacher evaluated each essay against a strict rubric.”
What is another word for “evaluate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “evaluate” include weigh.
What part of speech is “evaluate”?
“Evaluate” is a verb.
Where does the word “evaluate” come from?
The word “evaluate” comes from French. A back-formation from evaluation, itself from French évaluation.
Is “evaluate” a common word?
“Evaluate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “evaluate” have?
“Evaluate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to carefully judge the value, quality, or significance of something.
What is the difference between evaluate and assess?
The two verbs overlap heavily, and in everyday writing either is usually acceptable. Evaluate stresses judging the value, quality, or significance of something, while assess often suggests measuring or estimating its level or amount, as in assessing damage or assessing a tax.
What is the difference between evaluate and analyze?
To analyze something is to break it down and examine its parts in detail; to evaluate it is to reach a judgment about its value, quality, or significance. Analysis often comes first and supplies the evidence on which an evaluation is based.
What is the noun form of evaluate?
The noun is evaluation, meaning the act of judging value or quality, or the judgment itself. A person who evaluates is an evaluator.
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