diagnose
verb
di·ag·nose
ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs 
-ˌnōz,
ˌdī-ig-ˈnōs
-ˈnōz,
-əg-
diagnosed; diagnosing
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
G. Timothy JohnsonPulmonary embolus was diagnosed in two of the actively treated patients …—Richard D. Sautter et al.
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
Maria Cheng2
: to analyze the cause or nature of
The mechanic diagnosed the problem with the engine.
: to identify a disease from its signs and symptoms : to make a diagnosis
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
Knight was diagnosed with colon cancer shortly after Mary Tyler Moore ended.
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025
Family members and two of his lawyers say he was diagnosed with severe PTSD, a sad and rapid fall that ended in another explosion of violence.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2025
The documentary shared that Welch was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in her final years.
—Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 16 Mar. 2025
In 2013, Harper went public with news that she had been diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare form of cancer.
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for diagnose
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Victoria Edel, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025
Family members and two of his lawyers say he was diagnosed with severe PTSD, a sad and rapid fall that ended in another explosion of violence.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2025
The documentary shared that Welch was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in her final years.
—Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 16 Mar. 2025
In 2013, Harper went public with news that she had been diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare form of cancer.
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for diagnose
Cite this Entry
“Diagnose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diagnose. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diagnose
verb
di·ag·nose
ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs
-ˌnōz
-ˌnōz
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
-ˌnōz
-ˌnōz
ˌdī-ig-ˈ,
-əg-
diagnosed; diagnosing
1
: to recognize (as a disease) by signs and symptoms
2
: to diagnose a disease or condition in
diagnosed the patient
: to make a diagnosis
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