determination

/dɪˌtɜːmɪˈneɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˌtɜːrmɪˈneɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən/ (ame, mw)

determination — noun

  • determinationsingular
  • determinationsplural

1. a person's inner strength to keep trying to reach a difficult goal, even when th

1.名詞B2
釋義

a person's inner strength to keep trying to reach a difficult goal, even when the task becomes uncomfortable, tiring, or long

例句

Imran's determination to finish the marathon never weakened, even after he twisted his ankle.

determination + to-infinitive for personal goals

Learning to play the violin requires hours of practice and a great deal of determination.

collocation: a great deal of determination

同義詞
  • persistence

    focuses on continuing despite obstacles or repeated failures; less emphasis on inner strength than determination

  • resolve

    emphasises firmness of purpose or intention; often used in formal or serious contexts

  • perseverance

    similar to determination but highlights steady effort over a very long period rather than a single burst of will

  • willpower

    focuses on the mental self-control needed to resist temptation or push through discomfort

反義詞
  • indecision

    the state of being unable to make up one's mind, the opposite of firmness of purpose

  • apathy

    lack of interest or concern, the opposite of the strong motivation determination implies

文法句型

determination + to-infinitive

常見錯誤

❌She showed great determination of winning the race.
✅She showed great determination to win the race.
💡determination is followed by a to-infinitive, not of + gerund.
❌He has a strong determination to succeed.
✅He has strong determination to succeed.
💡determination is uncountable when it means perseverance, so it does not take a or an.

2. a firm decision or official settlement reached after careful thought, especially

2.名詞B2
釋義

a firm decision or official settlement reached after careful thought, especially one made by a person or group with authority

例句

The court's determination of the case took over six months of careful legal review.

determination of [legal case]

The committee made a determination that the applicant did not meet the safety requirements.

make a determination + that-clause

同義詞
  • ruling

    specifically a formal decision made by a court or official body; narrower than determination

  • judgment

    emphasises the reasoning behind a decision; often used in legal contexts

  • verdict

    the final decision in a legal case, especially one made by a jury

文法句型

determination + of + noun phrase

make a determination

常見錯誤

❌The committee reached a determination about to close the school.
✅The committee reached a determination that the school should close.' or 'The committee determined to close the school.
💡noun form uses a that-clause, not about + infinitive.

3. the process of discovering or calculating the exact amount, position, value, or

3.名詞C1
釋義

the process of discovering or calculating the exact amount, position, value, or nature of something through research or testing

例句

The determination of the star's distance from Earth took the team of astronomers several years.

scientific use: determination of [measurement]

Accurate determination of the drug's strength is essential for patient safety.

同義詞
  • calculation

    more specific to mathematical or numerical findings; determination can include non-numerical findings

  • measurement

    emphasises the use of instruments to obtain a physical value

  • identification

    focuses on recognising the nature or identity of something rather than measuring it

文法句型

determination + of + something (measurement)

常見錯誤

❌The determination of the chemical's property was done by the lab.' (vague)
✅The determination of the chemical's boiling point was carried out by the lab.' (specific measurable property)
💡with this sense, determination should refer to a specific measurable or calculable result, not just a general property.