figure out
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. to find an answer or understand something after thinking about it for a while.
phrasal verb. to reach an understanding or find a solution through mental effort or calculation; often implies a process of deduction or problem-solving.
I need to figure out how to use this app.
It took the mechanics several hours to figure out why the engine was making that strange noise.
Economists are still trying to figure out the long-term implications of the recent policy shift on global trade stability.
commonly used with 'how', 'why', or a direct object representing a problem.
contrast with 'understand' (the state of knowing) and 'realize' (a sudden moment of knowing); 'figure out' emphasizes the active process of thinking.
I figured out it.I figured it out.when the object is a pronoun like 'it', it must go between the verb and the particle.
Last updated April 24, 2026