assess
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to estimate officially the value of (property, income, etc.) as a basis for taxation.
-
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
-
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
-
to determine the amount of (a fine, tax, damages, etc)
-
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.
Besides the loss of its key ally Khamenei, the consequences for Moscow of the ongoing conflict in Iran were still difficult to assess.
From Barron's
They are now being assessed and condition checked by experts before they are returned to the library's special collections.
From BBC
Insomnia and sleep apnea should be assessed together instead of in isolation.
From Science Daily
Although the fallout for energy markets and global economies will be extensive, investors should carefully assess the likely magnitude of the conflict’s impact before rushing to buy any dips.
From Barron's
When trading resumes, prices are expected to rise as investors assess the risk to global supply, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas.
From Barron's
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.
