assess
Americanverb (used with object)
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to estimate officially the value of (property, income, etc.) as a basis for taxation.
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to fix or determine the amount of (damages, a tax, a fine, etc.).
The hurricane damage was assessed at six million dollars.
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to impose a tax or other charge on.
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to estimate or judge the value, character, etc., of; evaluate.
to assess one's efforts.
- Synonyms:
- appraise
verb
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to judge the worth, importance, etc, of; evaluate
-
(foll by at) to estimate the value of (income, property, etc) for taxation purposes
the estate was assessed at three thousand pounds
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to determine the amount of (a fine, tax, damages, etc)
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to impose a tax, fine, etc, on (a person or property)
Other Word Forms
- assessable adjective
- overassess verb (used with object)
- reassess verb (used with object)
- unassessable adjective
- unassessed adjective
- well-assessed adjective
Etymology
Origin of assess
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English assessen, from Old French assesser, from Medieval Latin assessāre “to assess a tax,” derivative of Latin assessus “seated beside (a judge)” (past participle of assidēre ), equivalent to as- “toward” + sed- (stem of sedēre “to sit”) + -tus past participle suffix; as-, sit 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When the campaign she’s currently working on ends, she said she plans to assess her job prospects and think hard about her next move.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026
Doctors have long measured cholesterol levels to assess the risk of heart disease.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
On Thursday, the British-led virtual meeting of dozens of nations will "assess all viable diplomatic and political measures that we can take to restore freedom of navigation" in the strait, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
The results are used to diagnose osteoporosis, assess a person's risk of fracture and evaluate body composition.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
For when I tried to assess my capabilities, I realized that I had almost none.
From "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
