evaluate

verb

i-ˈval-yə-ˌwāt How to pronounce evaluate (audio)
Definition of evaluatenext
as in to assess
to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding a trained assistant to evaluate the needs of the patients waiting to see the doctor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb evaluate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of evaluate are appraise, assess, estimate, rate, and value. While all these words mean "to judge something with respect to its worth or significance," evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary.

evaluate a student's work

When could appraise be used to replace evaluate?

The synonyms appraise and evaluate are sometimes interchangeable, but appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment.

having their house appraised

Where would assess be a reasonable alternative to evaluate?

The words assess and evaluate can be used in similar contexts, but assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action.

officials are trying to assess the damage

In what contexts can estimate take the place of evaluate?

The words estimate and evaluate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out.

estimated the crowd at two hundred

How are the words rate and estimate related as synonyms of evaluate?

Rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values.

a highly rated restaurant

How do value and appraise relate to one another, in the sense of evaluate?

Value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment.

a watercolor valued by the donor at $500

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of evaluate Yet in up to 25 percent of infertility cases, the male partner is never evaluated. —Lucy Tu, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025 The games ought to be decided by the teams that evaluate, recruit, develop, coach, retain and create a culture. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025 That is why Newsweek is proud to evaluate, for the third year in a row, America's Best-in-State Hospitals for 2026. —Newsweek Rankings, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025 Five Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service teams conducted comprehensive on-site assessments in Mexico this month to evaluate containment efforts. —Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for evaluate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for evaluate
  1. assess
  2. estimate
  3. value
Verb
  • Historically, political appointees generally—though not always—deferred to career government scientists when assessing and reporting on the scientific evidence underlying policy decisions.
    — David Michaels, The Atlantic, 20 July 2025
  • The National Hurricane Center continued Sunday to assess a tropical wave moving across the Atlantic with a chance to develop into the season’s next tropical depression or storm.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 July 2025
Definition of assess
Verb
  • Smoke estimated that less than 1% of auto loans are of the size that would produce a $10,000 deduction on car loan interest in a year.
    — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
  • The Office for Budget Responsibility, the U.K.’s independent forecaster, estimates that exports and imports will be around 15% lower in the long run, compared to if the U.K. had remained in the EU.
    — Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 21 July 2025
Definition of estimate
Verb
  • Skydance’s merger agreement with Paramount valued Skydance at $4.75 billion.
    — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
  • And the traits females valued in men differed dramatically from what males valued in themselves, GWI found.
    — Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Definition of value

Browse Nearby Words

evading
evaluate
evaluated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Evaluate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evaluate. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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