figuring out
Getting the answer
Figuring out is the process of solving, understanding, or determining something through thought or investigation.
You figure out a puzzle, figure out what went wrong, or figure out how to get somewhere: I'm still trying to figure out how she knew.
The phrase implies working through uncertainty to reach clarity.
- decipheringInterpreting coded information
- piecing togetherAssembling from fragments
- deducingConcluding from evidence
- inferringDeriving meaning indirectly
- solvingFinding the answer
reasoning · making sense · comprehension · cracking · logic · decoding · connecting the dots · eureka · light bulb moment · discovering · analysis · getting it · thought process · hypothesizing · trial and error · researching · understanding · examining
- discoveryfind, finding, discovery, discover, finding out
- understandingunderstand, comprehend, grasp, fathom, follow
- handlingdealing with, handling, managing, coping, addressing
- creatingcreating, inventing, producing, generating, making
- thinkingthinking, reasoning, thought, ponder, contemplate
- code-breaking verbsdecrypting, deciphering, cracking, unscrambling, solving
figuring outscratching one's head
Gesture showing confusion
drawing a blank · missing the point · hitting a wall · misunderstanding · muddling
figuring outmisunderstanding
Failure to grasp meaning
forgetting · not knowing · misinterpreting · misconstruing · unlearning
figuring outgiving up
Choosing to stop trying
abandoning · quitting · throwing in the towel · surrendering · walking away from
figure, figured, figuring, figurative, figuratively, figuration, figure out, configuring, prefiguring