formulate

[ fawr-myuh-leyt ]
See synonyms for formulate on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),for·mu·lat·ed, for·mu·lat·ing.
  1. to express in precise form; state definitely or systematically: He finds it extremely difficult to formulate his new theory.

  2. to devise or develop, as a method, system, etc.

  1. to reduce to or express in a formula.

Origin of formulate

1
First recorded in 1855–60; formul(a) + -ate1

Other words for formulate

Other words from formulate

  • for·mu·la·ble [fawr-myuh-luh-buhl], /ˈfɔr myə lə bəl/, adjective
  • for·mu·la·tion, noun
  • for·mu·la·tor, noun
  • non·for·mu·la·tion, noun
  • pre·for·mu·late, verb (used with object), pre·for·mu·lat·ed, pre·for·mu·lat·ing.
  • pre·for·mu·la·tion, noun
  • un·for·mu·lat·ed, adjective
  • well-for·mu·lat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use formulate in a sentence

  • Without formulating any definite idea, he felt in a vague way that Latour's career was in some way bound up with his own.

    The Light That Lures | Percy Brebner
  • All this time Lady Ellingtons mind had not been only formulating but also constructing, and her construction was now complete.

    The Angel of Pain | E. F. Benson
  • But Mancini made no attempt to apply this description in formulating a system of instruction.

    The Psychology of Singing | David C. Taylor
  • I shall wait until I'm in possession of more facts before formulating one.

  • I go on and through, flinging the gate wide and formulating the law of the mystery which is a mystery no longer.

British Dictionary definitions for formulate

formulate

/ (ˈfɔːmjʊˌleɪt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to put into or express in systematic terms; express in or as if in a formula

  2. to devise

Derived forms of formulate

  • formulator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012