MEANING
1. To develop an idea, question, or plan and express it clearly.
2. To develop the composition of a preparation or product.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- formulate a hypothesis
- formulate a policy
On the page
The researchers formulated a hypothesis before collecting data.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- formulate
- Past tense
- formulated
- Past participle
- formulated
- Present participle
- formulating
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- formulate
- Present continuous
- am/is/are formulating
- Present perfect
- have/has formulated
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been formulating
- Past
- formulated
- Past continuous
- was/were formulating
- Past perfect
- had formulated
- Past perfect continuous
- had been formulating
- Future
- will formulate
- Future continuous
- will be formulating
- Future perfect
- will have formulated
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been formulating
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: academic / formal. Forms: formulate; formulates; formulated; formulated; formulating Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: analysis, explanation. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: formulates.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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