Idiom idiom
puzzle out
Meaning
To figure out; to discover or find a solution to.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“I need to puzzle out this math problem.”
“It took me all afternoon to puzzle out how to fix the broken kitchen sink.”
“The detective spent hours trying to puzzle out the strange clues left behind at the scene of the crime.”
Anchors to
- 01
Chinese puzzle
A senseless situation.
- 02
piece of the puzzle
A clue that contributes to the solution of a mystery.
- 03
puzzle over
To think intensely and deeply about a confusing problem, situation, or question in an effort to understand it or to find a solution.
- 04
puzzle through
To work methodically to solve or understand something complex.
Last updated August 10, 2026