calculate
verb
cal·cu·late
ˈkal-kyə-ˌlāt 
calculated; calculating
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
Hugh MacLennan2
: 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
Mark TwainExamples 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
These have included, in recent years, NASA, whose OSIRIS-REx mission (2016-23) collected samples from the Bennu asteroid, which measures a third of a mile across and has been calculated to have a not infinitesimal chance of colliding with Earth in the twenty-second century.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
The track’s owners and construction executives calculated what could be built in time for the Aug. 25 race:
Temporary bleachers and red and white tents would replace the Post and Paddock Club.
—Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 27 July 2025
We will be daily inundated with false reports that AI has finally and firmly calculated the true meaning of life.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Each destination needed to have at least 20 spa listings on Yelp, and there needed to be population data available to calculate spa density per capita.
—Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for calculate
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Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
The track’s owners and construction executives calculated what could be built in time for the Aug. 25 race:
Temporary bleachers and red and white tents would replace the Post and Paddock Club.
—Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 27 July 2025
We will be daily inundated with false reports that AI has finally and firmly calculated the true meaning of life.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Each destination needed to have at least 20 spa listings on Yelp, and there needed to be population data available to calculate spa density per capita.
—Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for calculate
Cite this Entry
“Calculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calculate. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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