indeterminate

IPA/ˌɪndɪˈtɜːmɪnət/
KK[ˌɪndɪtˈɚmɪnɪt]IPA/ˌɪndɪˈtɜːrmɪnət/

indeterminate — adjective

  • indeterminatepositive
  • more indeterminatecomparative
  • most indeterminatesuperlative

1. impossible to work out exactly, because it has not been measured, counted, or de

1.形容詞C1
釋義

impossible to work out exactly, because it has not been measured, counted, or decided yet, or because it could lead to more than one result

例句

The doctors said Liam's recovery would take an indeterminate length of time.

describes something whose exact amount cannot be fixed

Apinya painted the old fence an indeterminate shade somewhere between grey and green.

of a colour that is hard to name exactly

同義詞
  • vague

    more everyday; stresses lack of clear shape or detail rather than impossibility of measuring

  • uncertain

    focuses on doubt about what is true or will happen, not on something being unmeasurable

  • undefined

    stresses that no clear limit or meaning has been set, often in technical use

反義詞

用法筆記

Often describes amounts, durations, results, or boundaries that resist a single fixed value. Frequently follows linking verbs such as 'remain' or 'be', and pairs with abstract nouns like 'length', 'cause', 'number', or 'outcome'.

常見錯誤

❌an indeterminate answer to the maths problem' (when you mean simply wrong).
✅an indeterminate answer to the maths problem' only if it truly cannot be fixed
💡otherwise say 'an incorrect answer.' — 'indeterminate' means undecidable, not mistaken.