calculate

To find a number or amount by using mathematics.

• Can you calculate the total?
• She calculated the cost of the trip.
• The program calculates how much tax you owe.

How to use it: calculate how much… (We calculated how much paint we needed.)

Similar words: work out, compute

Common phrases: calculate the cost, calculate the total, calculate a percentage

To judge what will happen or what to do by carefully thinking about the facts.

• We must calculate the risks carefully.
• She calculated that nobody would notice her absence.
• They had calculated how the public would react.

How to use it: calculate that… (He calculated that leaving early would avoid trouble.)

Similar words: judge, reckon, estimate

Common phrases: calculate the risks, calculate that something, calculate your chances

To intend or expect something to produce a particular result.

• The joke was calculated to offend.
• Her speech was calculated to win public support.
• Every detail had been calculated to impress the guests.

How to use it: be calculated to do something (His remarks were calculated to upset her.)

Similar words: intend, design

Common phrases: calculate to impress, calculate to offend

To work out when or how something will happen using numbers or the positions of stars.

• Astronomers calculate the next eclipse.
• The astrologer calculated a horoscope for the child.
• They calculated when the planet would appear again.

Similar words: compute, predict

Common phrases: calculate an eclipse, calculate a horoscope

To expect something to happen and make plans based on that expectation.

• We calculate on your help.
• She had calculated on finding the door open.
• They had not calculated on such heavy rain.

How to use it: calculate on someone/something (We calculated on his support.); calculate on doing something (They calculated on arriving before dark.)

Similar words: count on, expect, reckon on

Common phrases: calculate on something, calculate on help

To carefully design or prepare something so that it serves a particular purpose.

• They calculated the system for public safety.
• The laws were carefully calculated for a growing nation.
• He calculated every part of the scheme for that purpose.

How to use it: calculate something for something (They calculated the rules for the needs of a small community.)

Similar words: adapt, design, tailor

Common phrases: calculate for something, calculate a system