evaluate
/ɪˈvæl.ju.eɪt/To carefully study something and decide how good, useful, or important it is. You look at the evidence or facts and form a judgment based on them.
- The committee will evaluate all applications before making a decision.
- Students are asked to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each argument.
- We need to evaluate the risks before launching the new product.
Adinary Nuance
Evaluate sits in a group of near-neighbors — assess, appraise, examine, and judge — but it carries the strongest sense of a systematic, criteria-based process. Where judge can feel personal and quick, evaluate implies a structured review with evidence. Assess is the closest rival: in IELTS and academic writing, the two are nearly interchangeable, but evaluate slightly emphasizes forming a conclusion about worth or quality, while assess leans toward measuring a current state. Appraise is often reserved for formal performance reviews or monetary value (property, art). In academic essays, evaluate is the go-to word when a question asks you to "weigh pros and cons and reach a verdict."
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Đánh giá
- Spanish
- Evaluar
- Chinese
- 评估
- Japanese
- 評価する
- Korean
- 평가하다
Etymology
From Latin "evaluare," combining "e-" (out) and "valere" (to be worth or strong). It entered English in the early 19th century, first used in mathematical contexts before spreading to academic and professional writing.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between 'evaluate' and 'assess'?
- Both words mean to judge or measure something carefully. 'Evaluate' focuses on deciding the overall worth or quality, often with a final verdict. 'Assess' focuses more on measuring a current level or state. In practice, especially in academic writing and IELTS, they are used interchangeably.
- Is 'evaluate' formal or informal?
- 'Evaluate' is formal to semi-formal. It is very common in academic essays, business reports, and IELTS writing tasks. In everyday casual speech, people usually say 'check,' 'look at,' or 'judge' instead.
- How do I use 'evaluate' in an IELTS or academic essay?
- You can use it to signal that you are weighing evidence and forming a judgment. For example: 'This essay will evaluate the effectiveness of government health policies.' It is especially useful in task 2 essays where you are asked to discuss and give an opinion.
- What is the noun form of 'evaluate'?
- The noun form is 'evaluation.' For example: 'The evaluation of the program took three months.' You can also use 'evaluator' for the person who does the evaluating.