To figure out means
A) to understand something or solve a problem
Example sentences:
- I've figured out how to find our way out of here.
- It was hard to figure out what he was saying.
B) to understand another person's motivations
Example sentence:
- For the longest time, I couldn't understand why he did those things. But I think I've figured him out.
I'm under the impression that this PV is used in North America but not very much in Britain or the Commonwealth. Is this true?