ascertaining
Making certain of
Ascertaining is the process of finding out something with certainty—determining facts through investigation or inquiry.
The word carries a sense of deliberate effort: After ascertaining the cause of the leak, they called a plumber.
You ascertain information rather than simply learn it, implying verification or confirmation of what might have been uncertain.
Acquiring new information
- uncoveringRevealing something hidden
- detectingPerceiving something present
- learningGaining knowledge gradually
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
unearthing · determining · investigation · inquiry · research · probing · exploration · digging up
Determining worth or quality
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- estimationApproximate value judgment
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
measurement · appraisal · diagnosis · gauging · judgment · deduction · inference · reasoning
Establishing something as true
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- authenticationConfirming genuine identity
- corroborationEvidence confirming another account
- substantiationProof of truth
proof · evidence · documentation · cross-checking · vetting · fact-checking · attestation · double-checking
Mental understanding of meaning
- graspingGreedy for wealth
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- realizationGrasping what's true
apprehension · clarity · insight · recognition · fathoming · making sense of · getting · cognizance
finding out
Acquiring new information
- uncoveringRevealing something hidden
- detectingPerceiving something present
- learningGaining knowledge gradually
revelation · unearthing · determining · investigation · inquiry · research · probing · exploration · digging up · getting to the bottom of
evaluation
Determining worth or quality
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- estimationApproximate value judgment
calculation · measurement · appraisal · diagnosis · gauging · judgment · deduction · inference · reasoning · interpretation
confirmation
Establishing something as true
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- authenticationConfirming genuine identity
- corroborationEvidence confirming another account
substantiation · proof · evidence · documentation · cross-checking · vetting · fact-checking · attestation · double-checking · scrutiny
comprehension
Mental understanding of meaning
- graspingGreedy for wealth
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
realization · apprehension · clarity · insight · recognition · fathoming · making sense of · getting · cognizance · awareness
- searchingsearching, rummaging, digging, looking through, finding
- Determiningdeciding, choosing, judging, concluding, resolving
ascertainingdoubting
Questioning the truth
questioning · disbelieving · disproving · ignoring · overlooking
ascertainingguessing
Estimating without certainty
assuming · presuming · speculating · conjecturing · supposing
ascertainingconfusing
Causing mental uncertainty
obscuring · obfuscating · muddling · clouding · mystifying
certain, uncertain, uncertainty, certainty, ascertain, certificate, certify, certified, certification