diagnose

verb

di·​ag·​nose ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs How to pronounce diagnose (audio)
-ˌnōz,
ˌdī-ig-ˈnōs How to pronounce diagnose (audio)
-ˈnōz,
-əg-
diagnosed; diagnosing
Synonyms of diagnosenext

transitive verb

1
a
: to recognize (something, such as a disease) by signs and symptoms
The other method of diagnosing gallstones is through an ultrasound examination, which has the advantages of being simple, safe and quick.—G. Timothy Johnson
Pulmonary embolus was diagnosed in two of the actively treated patients …—Richard D. Sautter et al.
b
: to recognize a disease or condition in
The physicist and cosmologist was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease when he was a 21-year-old student at Cambridge University.—Maria Cheng
2
: to analyze the cause or nature of
The mechanic diagnosed the problem with the engine.

intransitive verb

: to identify a disease from its signs and symptoms : to make a diagnosis
diagnosable adjective
or diagnoseable
ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-sə-bəl How to pronounce diagnose (audio)
-əg-,
-zə-

Examples of diagnose in a Sentence

The test is used to help in diagnosing heart disease. Thousands of new cases have been diagnosed in the past year. The doctor was unable to diagnose the skin condition. a new doctor with little experience diagnosing patients The mechanic was unable to diagnose the problem.
Recent Examples on the Web After missing more than a month of games because of a foot injury diagnosed as right foot medial tendinitis, Herro made his return in Friday’s win over the Rockets. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2024 About one in 100,000 people a year are diagnosed with AVM's, which usually aren't detected before rupture. —Wendy Grossman Kantor, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024 By Sarah Klein April 4, 2024 10:55 AM EDT The U.S. is expected to hit a bleak milestone this year: For the first time, more than 2 million people will be diagnosed with cancer. —Sarah Klein, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024 Instead, viral infections are more commonly diagnosed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme immunoassays. —Tanya Feke, Verywell Health, 4 Apr. 2024 About 6,000 people a year in the United States are diagnosed with ALS, often called Lou Gehrig’s disease, which kills by progressively shutting down the body’s ability to move, speak and eventually breathe. —Daniel Gilbert, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024 And many women, says Berzin, present with undiagnosed thyroid conditions (one in five women will be diagnosed in their lifetime). —Fiorella Valdesolo, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2024 Betty was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's in 2002, McLeod said. —Sahana Jayaraman, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024 Doctors diagnosed the tenant with hypertension and ketonuria the following day, the complaint continued. —Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diagnose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from diagnosis

First Known Use

circa 1841, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of diagnose was circa 1841

Dictionary Entries Near diagnose

diaglyphic

diagnose

diagnosis

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Diagnose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diagnose. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

diagnose

verb
di·​ag·​nose ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs How to pronounce diagnose (audio) -ˌnōz How to pronounce diagnose (audio)
ˌdī-ig-ˈnōs,
-ˈnōz
diagnosed; diagnosing
: to recognize by signs and symptoms : make a diagnosis
diagnose a disease
diagnose a play in football

Medical Definition

diagnose

verb
di·​ag·​nose ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs How to pronounce diagnose (audio) -ˌnōz How to pronounce diagnose (audio)
ˌdī-ig-ˈ,
-əg-
diagnosed; diagnosing

transitive verb

1
: to recognize (as a disease) by signs and symptoms
2
: to diagnose a disease or condition in
diagnosed the patient

intransitive verb

: to make a diagnosis
diagnosable adjective
also diagnoseable
ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-sə-bəl, -əg-, -zə- How to pronounce diagnose (audio)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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