calculate
verb
cal·cu·late
ˈkal-kyə-ˌlāt 
calculated; calculating
1
a
: to determine by mathematical processes
calculate the rate of acceleration
b
: to reckon by exercise of practical judgment : estimate
calculate the likelihood of success
c
: to solve or probe the meaning of : figure out
trying to calculate his expression—
Hugh MacLennan
Hugh MacLennan2
: to design or adapt for a purpose
he carefully calculated the timing of his arrival for maximum impact
3
a
: to judge to be true or probable
b
: intend
I calculate to do it or perish in the attempt—Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Examples of calculate in a Sentence
calculate the volume of a cylinder
I need to calculate how long it will take me to drive to Chicago.
We calculated the cost of new carpeting for the whole house.
We need to calculate our chances of success before we invest more money in the business.
Recent Examples on the Web
But experts have warned that more efforts, including regulatory reforms and new ways of calculating risk, are necessary to solve the state's property insurance crisis.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
The Trump administration’s order to freeze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans prompted confusion across state capitols and local government offices on Tuesday, leaving them at a loss on how to even calculate its impact.
—J. David Goodman, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2025
According to data calculated by container shipping expert John McCown, there was a 14.2 percent increase in total inbound cargo volume in December across the top 10 U.S. ports.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 Jan. 2025
The research drew from individual death certificates from 1989 through 1991 and from 2017 through 2019, and calculated three-year averages for each set of years to reduce random variations in death rates.
—Maya Goldman, Axios, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for calculate 
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Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
The Trump administration’s order to freeze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans prompted confusion across state capitols and local government offices on Tuesday, leaving them at a loss on how to even calculate its impact.
—J. David Goodman, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2025
According to data calculated by container shipping expert John McCown, there was a 14.2 percent increase in total inbound cargo volume in December across the top 10 U.S. ports.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 Jan. 2025
The research drew from individual death certificates from 1989 through 1991 and from 2017 through 2019, and calculated three-year averages for each set of years to reduce random variations in death rates.
—Maya Goldman, Axios, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for calculate
Dictionary Entries Near calculate
Cite this Entry
“Calculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calculate. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
calculate
verb
cal·cu·late
ˈkal-kyə-ˌlāt
calculated; calculating
1
: to find by performing mathematical operations (as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) : compute
calculate the average
2
: estimate entry 1 sense 1
calculate the risk of losing
3
: to plan by careful thought
a program calculated to succeed
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