Meaning: This idiom means to solve a problem, understand something, or find an answer through thought or effort.
Usage in Example Sentences:
- “I need to figure out how to fix my computer before the deadline.”
- “They spent hours trying to figure out the solution to the puzzle.”
- “She finally figured out what was causing the strange noise in the car.”
Origin: “Figure out” comes from the mathematical sense of “figure,” which refers to numbers and calculations. To “figure out” something originally meant to solve a mathematical problem or puzzle. Over time, it broadened to mean understanding or solving any problem, not just a numerical one. The phrase has been commonly used since the early 19th century.
