# evaluate

/iˈvæɫjuˌeɪt/ (US) · /ɪvˈæljuːˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/evaluate
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. to assess or judge

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to carefully judge the quality, importance, or value of something.

For teachers: to determine the significance, worth, or condition of something by careful appraisal and study. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The committee needs to evaluate all the job applications before making a final decision.
- The researchers spent several months evaluating the long-term impact of the new policy on local businesses before publishing their findings.

Usage: Often used with adverbs like 'carefully', 'thoroughly', or 'objectively'.

### 2. to calculate a value

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to find the numerical answer or result of a mathematical problem or computer command.

For teachers: to calculate the numerical value of an expression or to execute a command to return a result. Can be used transitively for the action or intransitively for the result.

- You need to evaluate the expression inside the brackets first.
- The software is designed to evaluate complex algorithms in real-time, providing immediate feedback to the engineering team.

Usage: In computing, an expression is said to 'evaluate to' a specific value.

## Examples

- The teachers evaluate the students' work every month.
- The committee needs to evaluate all the job applications before they start the interview process next week.
- Before implementing the new software across the entire corporation, the IT department must evaluate its compatibility with existing legacy systems to prevent potential data loss.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.