phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb

figure out

to understand or solve

What it means

To understand something after thinking about it, or to find the solution to a problem. It often suggests effort and a sudden moment of clarity once the answer appears.

Examples

  • It took me an hour to figure out how this new software works.
  • I can't figure out why she's so angry with me today.
  • Let's sit down and figure out a budget for the trip together.
  • Eventually they figured out that the noise was coming from the attic.

Where it comes from

Separable: 'figure it out' or 'figure out the problem'. More common in American English; British speakers often say 'work out' for the same meaning.

Related phrasal verbs

#work out#sort out#find out#look into

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