figures out
Works it out
To figure out is to solve, understand, or work through something requiring thought: I finally figured out how to fix the printer, She couldn't figure out why he was upset.
The phrase implies mental effort—puzzling through a problem until it clicks.
You figure out answers, meanings, directions, or people's motives.
- ascertainDiscover through investigation
- decipherConvert code to plaintext
- clueSolving aid
- deduceReach by reasoning
- puts two and two togetherDraws logical conclusion from evidence
cracks the code · decode · comprehend · gets the picture · diagnose · dawns · discover · insight · cracks · lateral thinking · solve · gets to the bottom of · clicks · inference · interpret · fathoms · sussed · understand
figures outmisunderstands
Incorrectly interprets meaning
overlooks · misses · draws a blank · gets wrong · misreads
figures outassumes
Accepts as true
guesses · jumps to conclusions · presumes · takes for granted · wings it