Evaluate means to carefully examine something to determine its value, quality, or importance. When a teacher evaluates your essay, she reads it thoughtfully to judge how well you explained your ideas, organized your thoughts, and supported your arguments. When doctors evaluate a patient's symptoms, they consider all the information to figure out what's wrong and what treatment might help.

Evaluating goes deeper than a quick glance or gut feeling. It involves looking at evidence, weighing different factors, and making a reasoned judgment. A scientist might evaluate the results of an experiment by analyzing data and checking whether the findings support her hypothesis. A coach evaluates players by observing their skills, effort, and teamwork over time, looking for patterns rather than single moments.

You might evaluate which book to read next by considering the subject, length, and whether friends recommended it. An engineer evaluates a bridge design to make sure it's safe and strong enough.

An evaluation is the process or result of evaluating something. After your teacher evaluates your project, she might write an evaluation explaining what you did well and what you could improve.