verb

diagnose

DUH-ih-uhg-nohz

verb

To identify a disease or condition from a patient's symptoms.

"The doctor diagnosed her with a mild case of the flu."

"It took several tests before the specialist could diagnose the illness."

To identify the cause of any problem.

"The mechanic quickly diagnosed the engine trouble as a faulty sensor."

How to Use Diagnose

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo figure out exactly what is wrong, whether with a person's health or a broken machine.

Common mistake

You diagnose a *condition*, but a *person* "is diagnosed with" a condition — "diagnosed with diabetes," not "diagnosed diabetes."

Common pairings

diagnose a condition diagnosed with cancer diagnose the problem

diagnosed past tense, diagnoses singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The doctor _____ her with a mild case of the flu.

A back-formation from diagnosis, ultimately from Greek diagignoskein ("to distinguish, discern").

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