expression

figure out

to understand or solve

In Phrasal Verbs

In more detail

1. (verb) to understand or solve something by thinking about it carefully

2. (verb) to calculate or compute an amount

3. (verb) to appear or be included in something

Examples

1. After thinking about it for days, I finally figured out why she was upset.
2. Can you figure out how much we spent on groceries this month?
3. Her name figured out in several news stories about the project.

How to use figure out

Figure out is a common, informal phrasal verb used in everyday speech and writing to mean 'understand,' 'solve,' or 'calculate.' It is more conversational than formal alternatives like determine or discern, and is frequently used in expressions like 'I can't figure out why' or 'We need to figure out a solution.'

Common phrases

figure out the answer
figure out how to
figure out what happened
let me figure out
hard to figure out

Synonyms

work out · solve · determine · calculate · discern

Word family

figured out · figuring out · figures out

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'figure' alone instead of the full phrasal verb, or confuse it with 'make out,' which has a narrower meaning of understanding speech or seeing something clearly.

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