assess
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to carefully judge the quality, importance, or value of something.
to evaluate or estimate the nature, quality, or ability of someone or something. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Simple“The teacher needs to assess the students' progress before the final exam.”
In context“The committee spent several weeks trying to assess the long-term environmental impact of the proposed hydroelectric dam project.”
UsageOften used in academic and professional contexts when a formal judgment is required.
- 02 C1 Advanced
to calculate the amount of tax or money that someone must pay.
to estimate the value of property for taxation purposes or to calculate the amount of a tax or fine.
Simple“The city will assess the value of the house to decide the property tax.”
In context“The local authorities will assess the damage to the infrastructure before determining the total cost of the repairs.”
UsageCommonly used in legal or financial contexts involving property and government revenue.
- 03 C1 Advanced
to officially make someone pay a fine or a penalty.
to impose a fine, tax, or other financial charge on a person or entity.
Simple“The court decided to assess a heavy fine against the company for polluting the river.”
In context“The regulatory body has the power to assess penalties against any firm found to be in breach of safety protocols.”
Usage assess the risks · assess the full · assess the needs
“In T-levels there has been an improvement, although their newness makes this year’s results harder to assess or compare.”
“He could not say however how much these payments would be or how those costs would be assessed.”
From Middle English assessen, from Old French assesser, from Medieval Latin assessare, originally the frequentative of Latin assessus, past participle of assidēre, from ad (“to, towards, at”) + sedeō (“sit; settle down”). Cognate with Spanish asentar (“to settle”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.