to guess

Examples

• All

• The subjects were also instructed to guess when they were unsure about what they heard.

  Academic text (2013)

• Without empirical evidence, I would guess that young readers do not go beyond two.

  Academic text (2013)

• What his purpose is in this, no one can guess, but it is to our interest.

  Fiction book (1990)

• I would venture to guess that many of you have similar childhood memories.

  Academic text (2011)

• "And I don't know, but I would guess that might not be the case in other jurisdictions."

  Academic text (1999)

• When she opened the box without looking, she had to guess what was inside.

• He couldn't remember where he put his keys, so he had to guess their location.

Synonyms

T

to think

vsto guess

∞ 1.0

To have an opinion or guess about something

focuses more narrowly on forming a belief without certain knowledge

S

to suppose

vsto guess

∞ 2.7

To think something is true without clear proof

forms an opinion without certain knowledge rather than proving it

A

to assume

vsto guess

∞ 3.2

Think something is true without proof

is about forming a belief without certain knowledge rather than accepting proof

S

to suspect

vsto guess

925 3.6

To think something is likely true without definite proof

forms an opinion without certain knowledge without implying particular doubt

I

to imagine

vsto guess

795 1.5

To think something is true without clear proof

forms an opinion from limited knowledge rather than relying on imagination

S

to speculate

vsto guess

254 4.8

To think about possible reasons or outcomes when there are not enough facts

forms a belief directly rather than exploring many hypothetical possibilities

R

to reckon

vsto guess

• UK

185 3.4

To think or believe something is true

is about forming a belief without certain knowledge rather than simply giving a view

P

to presume

vsto guess

136 4.9

To suppose something is true without proof

is about forming a belief without certain knowledge rather than basing action on it

O

to opine

vsto guess

24 7.9

To say what you think about something

forms an opinion privately rather than publicly expressing it

C

to conjecture

vsto guess

7 7.6

To form an opinion without enough proof

creates a general belief without certain knowledge rather than seeking proof

Antonyms

A

to ascertain

59 5.7

To find out for sure by checking the facts

Idioms

G

guess what

• Informal

91 4.9

A phrase you say before telling surprising news

A

anyone's guess

• Informal

9 7.0

Something very uncertain that you cannot predict

L

let me guess

• Informal

3 4.6

Said when you are about to say what you think happened

Y

your guess is as good as mine

• Informal

1 7.4

Something you say when you do not know the answer any more than the other person does

B

by guess or by gosh

• Informal

9.9

People make decisions by guessing when there is no clear plan

Phrasal Verbs

S

to second-guess

• Informal

27 6.1

To criticize a decision after you know the result

S

to second-guess oneself

• Informal

9 7.0

To doubt your own decisions and worry you made the wrong choice

How Certain

to conclude

428 3.1

estimate

370 2.6

to guess

∞ 1.0

to suppose

∞ 2.7

to speculate

254 4.8

Surface Forms

Etymology