Is ascertain formal or informal?

What's the difference between ascertain and find out?

How do I use ascertain in a sentence?

Is ascertain common in academic writing?

← Dictionary

ascertain

/əˈsɜːt.ən/

IELTSAcademic

verb

To find or be sure of something after checking carefully.

We need to ascertain the patient's condition.
They ascertained the train's arrival time.
The report ascertains the link between pollution and illness.

Adinary Nuance

Near-neighbors: unlike discover (often passive or accidental), ascertain stresses deliberate checking. It is stronger than find out and more formal than make sure; choose ascertain in careful or official investigation.

In other languages

Spanish: Averiguar
Japanese: 確認する
Korean: 확인하다
Vietnamese: xác nhận
Chinese: 查明

Common phrases

ascertain the factsascertain the causeascertain the truth

Synonyms

check confirm determine establish verify

Frequently asked questions

Is ascertain formal or informal?: Is ascertain formal or informal?
What's the difference between ascertain and find out?: What's the difference between ascertain and find out?
How do I use ascertain in a sentence?: How do I use ascertain in a sentence?
Is ascertain common in academic writing?: Is ascertain common in academic writing?