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21 Oct 2020

Portuguese (Portugal)

English (US)
English (UK)
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Question about English (US)

What is the difference between I don't know what this word means. I need to find out. and I don't know what this word means I need to figure out. ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.

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graybedroll

21 Oct 2020

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English (US)

"Find out" means to "find" the answer. It already exists and you basically want someone to tell you (someone = a person, a book, a website, etc.).

"Figure it out" means to think of the answer yourself, like in a math problem.

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graybedroll

21 Oct 2020

English (US)

"Find out" means to "find" the answer. It already exists and you basically want someone to tell you (someone = a person, a book, a website, etc.).

"Figure it out" means to think of the answer yourself, like in a math problem.

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cavefundoo

21 Oct 2020

Portuguese (Portugal)

@graybedroll if you find out a math problem you are seeing the answers without trying solving right?

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kelpwich

21 Oct 2020

English (US)

✅ I need to find out.

❌ I need to figure out.

✅ I need to figure it out.

“Figure out” needs an object.

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cavefundoo

21 Oct 2020

Portuguese (Portugal)

@kelpwich thanks

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graybedroll

21 Oct 2020

English (US)

@cavefundoo Probably! It also depends on the way you say it. If you say, "I HAVE to find out the answer to this math problem." with a lot of determination, it means the same as "figure out".
They are different, but they're similar enough to be used the same a lot of the time.

Sorry if that was confusing 😅

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What is the difference between I don't know what this word means. I need to find out. and I don't know what this word means I need to figure out. ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.

"Find out" means to "find" the answer. It already exists and you basically want someone to tell you (someone = a person, a book, a website, etc.)."Figure it out" means to think of the answer yourself, like in a math problem.

"Find out" means to "find" the answer. It already exists and you basically want someone to tell you (someone = a person, a book, a website, etc.)."Figure it out" means to think of the answer yourself, like in a math problem.

✅ I need to find out.❌ I need to figure out.✅ I need to figure it out.“Figure out” needs an object.

"Find out" means to "find" the answer. It already exists and you basically want someone to tell you (someone = a person, a book, a website, etc.).

"Figure it out" means to think of the answer yourself, like in a math problem.

"Find out" means to "find" the answer. It already exists and you basically want someone to tell you (someone = a person, a book, a website, etc.).

"Figure it out" means to think of the answer yourself, like in a math problem.

✅ I need to find out.

❌ I need to figure out.

✅ I need to figure it out.

“Figure out” needs an object.