cannot be figured out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be figured out" is grammatically correct and is commonly used in written English.
It means that something is not able to be understood or solved. Example 1: The complex mathematical equation cannot be figured out by anyone except for the brilliant professor. Example 2: The true meaning of the ancient hieroglyphics cannot be figured out due to the lack of historical evidence.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

He, like his greatest characters, Hamlet, Falstaff, Rosalind, and yes, Cleopatra, cannot be figured out, cannot be played upon like a flute or pipe, as Hamlet says to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of his many enemies.

Huffington Post

However, the interface stiffness cannot be figured out by this way.

Construction and Building Materials

But David Paterson is the one who cannot be figured out?

Huffington Post

In a strict quantitative sense, however, this can be done only for the tested mixture concentrations; because extrapolation methods are unsuitable, the mixture data cannot be figured out using the same concentration scale.

Environmental Health Perspectives

They described it as involving "parents both ill and no one to take care of the child" (mother aged 56 years, child aged 22 years), "child [being] seriously ill" (mother aged 38, child aged 12), "mystery illness that cannot be figured out" (mother aged 40, child aged 17), and situations that lead to "imminent physical or emotional collapse" (mother aged 44, child aged 14).

Autism

It cannot be figured out.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

But you cannot be figuring out a market and competitive story in 60 days".

The New York Times

However, in the multiferroic thin films coated by top electrodes with the size of several hundred micrometers, the true change of ferroelectric polarization manipulated by external magnetic fields cannot be quantitatively figured out due to the existence of high leakage current.

Nanoscale Research Letters

It is shown that for such general six-jump cycles no limits for P110/P100 can be established, so that measurements of this ratio cannot be used to figure out whether diffusion via six-jump cycles may be relevant in a specific material.

Acta Materialia

That's a major problem, because banks have repeatedly demonstrated that they cannot be trusted to figure out their own foreclosures for themselves.

Huffington Post

Many more thousands of apartments sit vacant in purely residential buildings because their owners, having lived through at least one horrific episode in the city's housing courts, are just waiting for that perfect tenant to show up or cannot even figure out what rent they are legally entitled to charge.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot be figured out" when you want to express that something is inherently difficult or impossible to understand, rather than simply saying it hasn't been understood yet.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be figured out" when you mean something has not yet been understood. This phrase implies a fundamental impossibility of understanding, not just a current lack of comprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be figured out" functions as a predicate adjective, expressing the state of being impossible to understand or solve. It modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that the subject is beyond comprehension. Ludwig AI validates this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

29%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

14%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cannot be figured out" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to convey that something is impossible to understand or solve. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as a predicate adjective. While suitable for both formal and informal contexts, it's crucial to distinguish it from situations where understanding is merely delayed, not inherently impossible. Its presence in news, scientific, and academic sources suggests broad applicability. When a stronger emphasis on the impossibility of solving or decoding is needed, alternatives like "cannot be deciphered" or "remains a mystery" may be more effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be understood

Replaces "figured out" with the more formal "understood", emphasizing a lack of comprehension.

cannot be deciphered

Suggests that something is encoded or obscure, making it impossible to decode or interpret.

cannot be solved

Focuses specifically on the inability to find a solution to a problem or mystery.

remains a mystery

Shifts the focus to the enigmatic nature of something, highlighting its unknown aspects.

defies explanation

Implies that something is beyond rational or logical explanation.

is beyond comprehension

Emphasizes the difficulty in grasping or understanding something due to its complexity.

cannot be grasped

Highlights the difficulty in mentally seizing or understanding something.

is unfathomable

Suggests that something is too deep or complex to be fully explored or understood.

remains unexplained

Focuses on the lack of a clear and understandable explanation for something.

is inscrutable

Implies that something is difficult to interpret or understand due to its mysterious nature.

FAQs

What does "cannot be figured out" mean?

The phrase "cannot be figured out" means that something is impossible to understand, solve, or decipher. It implies a fundamental inability to find a solution or explanation.

What can I say instead of "cannot be figured out"?

You can use alternatives like "cannot be understood", "cannot be deciphered", or "remains a mystery" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "cannot be figured out"?

It is appropriate to use "cannot be figured out" when you want to express that something is inherently complex, obscure, or beyond human comprehension.

Is "cannot be figured out" a formal or informal expression?

The phrase "cannot be figured out" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or professional writing.