calculate

verb

cal·​cu·​late ˈkal-kyə-ˌlāt 

calculated; calculating

transitive verb

1

a

: to determine by mathematical processes

calculate the rate of acceleration

b

: to reckon by exercise of practical judgment : estimate

calculate the likelihood of success

c

: to solve or probe the meaning of : figure out

trying to calculate his expression

—Hugh MacLennan

2

: to design or adapt for a purpose

he carefully calculated the timing of his arrival for maximum impact

3

a

: to judge to be true or probable

b

: intend

I calculate to do it or perish in the attempt

—Mark Twain

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a calculation

b

: to forecast consequences

2

: count, rely

Synonyms

• cipher
• compute
• figure
• reckon
• work out

Examples of calculate in a Sentence

calculate the volume of a cylinder

I need to calculate how long it will take me to drive to Chicago.

We calculated the cost of new carpeting for the whole house.

We need to calculate our chances of success before we invest more money in the business.

Recent Examples on the Web

The survey of households, which is used to calculate the unemployment rate, painted a different picture as the establishment survey that provides the headline payrolls count. —Jeff Cox, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2024

That figure also represented the total number of employees that could be hired, without calculating the impact of the number of IRS workers who are expected to retire or leave the department over the next several years. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 6 Dec. 2024

David’s Vacation Club Rentals allows guests to calculate the cost of stays at various resorts on specific dates, narrowing for factors like room type and level, before requesting a reservation with a $105 deposit. —Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2024

The study also revealed the best airports for passengers in 2024, looking at on-time performance, customer service experience, and food and shops to calculate a final score for each airport, then collating a list of 239 airports ranked from best to worst. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin calculātus, past participle of calculāre "to count, reckon, compute," derivative of Latin calculus "pebble, pebble used for calculating on a counting board, method or result of calculation" — more at calculus

Note: The verb may already have existed in Latin, to judge by the derivative calculātor—see calculator.

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

calculate

verb

cal·​cu·​late ˈkal-kyə-ˌlāt 

calculated; calculating

1

: to find by performing mathematical operations (as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) : compute

calculate the average

2

: estimate entry 1 sense 1

calculate the risk of losing

3

: to plan by careful thought

a program calculated to succeed

Etymology

from Latin calculatus "calculate," derived from calculus "pebble (used in counting)," from calc-, calx "stone used in gambling, lime" — related to calcium, chalk