de ‧ ter ‧ mi ‧ na ‧ tion W3 /dɪˌtɜːməˈneɪʃ ə n, dɪˌtɜːmɪˈneɪʃ ə n $ -ɜːr-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ determined , ↑ indeterminate , ↑ predetermined ; noun : ↑ determination , ↑ determiner ; verb : ↑ determine ; adverb : determinedly]
1 . [uncountable] the quality of trying to do something even when it is difficult
determination to do something
Yuri shows great determination to learn English.
his dogged determination (=very strong determination) to succeed
2 . [uncountable and countable] formal the act of deciding something officially
determination of
the determination of government policy
3 . [countable] formal the act of finding the exact level, amount, or cause of something
determination of
accurate determination of the temperature
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have determination
To become a professional musician, you need to have a lot of determination.
▪ show determination ( also demonstrate determination formal )
From a very early age, she showed great determination.
▪ something requires determination
Success requires hard work and determination.
▪ express your determination to do something
He made a speech expressing his determination to rebuild the economy.
▪ underline your determination to do something (=emphasize it)
The Prime Minister underlined his determination to keep interest rates high.
■ adjectives
▪ great determination
She showed great determination to succeed.
▪ fierce determination (=involving strong feelings)
They fought with fierce determination.
▪ dogged/steely/grim determination (=very strong determination)
As a politician she was known for her dogged determination.
▪ sheer determination (=nothing except great determination)
He had survived by sheer determination.
▪ ruthless determination (=that involves not caring about hurting other people)
the ruthless determination of his business career
▪ single-minded determination (=having one clear aim and working very hard to achieve it)
Whatever task he undertook was tackled with single-minded determination.
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THESAURUS
▪ determination the quality of continuing to try to do something, even when it is difficult:
Bill got where he is today by sheer hard work and determination.
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I really admired her determination to live her own life.
▪ willpower the ability to control your mind and body in order to achieve something you have decided to do:
It takes a lot of willpower to give up smoking.
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She made herself get better by sheer willpower, when everyone else had given up hope.
▪ drive the determination and energy to succeed, especially in business or work:
We’re looking for young people who have drive, initiative, and new ideas.
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He’s clever enough, but he lacks drive.
▪ resolve formal a strong determination to succeed in doing something, especially because you are sure that it is a good thing to do:
The poverty she saw there strengthened her resolve to do something to help.
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The success of a military enterprise depends partly on the resolve of its leaders.
▪ perseverance the ability to continue trying to achieve something over a long period in a patient way, even when this is difficult:
Reaching this standard of musical skill requires incredible perseverance.
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A good teacher should have imagination and perseverance.
▪ ruthlessness the quality of being extremely determined to achieve what you want, and not caring if you have to hurt other people to do it:
He was a man who pursued his aims with complete ruthlessness.
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The revolt was suppressed with total ruthlessness.
▪ tenacity formal the determination to never stop trying to do something, especially when other people try to stop you:
He clung to power with a remarkable tenacity.
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When fighting cancer, Tsongas showed the same tenacity he displayed in politics.