verb

evaluate

ih-VAL-yoo-ayt/ɪˈvæljueɪt/

To determine the value of something through examination or calculation.

The specialist evaluates the damaged bowl by comparing it with an intact one.

A ceramic-quality evaluator closely examines a bowl’s uneven rim and hairline crack through a magnifying glass, comparing it with an intact bowl of the same design.

Etymology

The French components combine in the sense “find the value of.” Evaluation originally concerned mathematics in English; judging quality or importance extends that idea of determining worth beyond numerical values.

In context

TED2:32

evaluate my pricing, evaluate my value, and I did that by asking key value questions. What are my clients' needs and how do I meet them?

Know your worth, and then ask for it | Casey Brown

More examples

We evaluated three laptops before choosing one.
The doctor is evaluating how well the treatment works.
To evaluate the expression, replace x with 4 and calculate.

Forms

evaluate · evaluates · evaluated · evaluating

evaluation noun — An examination to determine value or quality.

evaluative adjective — Concerned with judging value or quality.

Similar words

assess: Emphasizes judging quality, importance, or condition rather than calculating.
appraise: Often means estimating an item's monetary worth through examination.
calculate: Specifically finds a numerical result through mathematical operations.