guess
/ges/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- An estimate based on little or no information: A "guess" is an opinion or answer formed without sufficient evidence or certainty.
- A message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence: A "guess" can also refer to the statement or idea itself that is proposed tentatively.
Verb:
- To estimate or form an opinion without sufficient evidence: To try to give an answer or form a judgment when you are not sure of all the facts.
- To suppose or believe something is true: To think something is likely or probable, often based on intuition rather than knowledge.
- To solve by guessing correctly: To arrive at the right answer through estimation or conjecture.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- That's just a guess, but I think he's about thirty years old.
- My first guess was wrong, but my second one was correct.
Verb:
- Can you guess how many marbles are in the jar?
- I guess you're right; we should leave now.
- She guessed the answer to the riddle immediately.
Advanced Usage
"to take a guess": to make an attempt to answer without being sure.
- I don't know the exact number, but I'll take a guess.
"to hazard a guess": to make a guess, especially when it is risky or difficult.
- It's hard to say, but I'll hazard a guess that sales will improve next quarter.
"Your guess is as good as mine" (Idiom): Used to say that you do not know the answer to a question and that the person asking likely knows just as much as you do.
- "When will the meeting end?" – "Your guess is as good as mine."
Variants and Related Words
Guesser (n): A person who guesses.
- He was a good guesser and won many carnival games.
Guesswork (n): The process or results of guessing.
- The report was based more on guesswork than on solid data.
Synonyms
- Estimate: To roughly calculate or judge the value, number, quantity, or extent of something.
- Suppose: To assume that something is the case based on probability or evidence.
- Conjecture: An opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Guess at: To make a guess about something.
- We can only guess at the total cost at this early stage.
Related Idioms
"At a guess": Used when giving an answer that is only approximate.
- At a guess, I'd say there were fifty people at the party.
"Second-guess": To criticize or question the actions or decisions of someone, often after the results are known; or to anticipate or predict someone's actions.
- It's easy to second-guess the coach's strategy now that the game is over.
- I'm trying to second-guess what the client will ask for next.
Noun
- an estimate based on little or no information
- a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
Verb
- guess correctly; solve by guessing
- He guessed the right number of beans in the jar and won the prize
- judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)
- I estimate this chicken to weigh three pounds
- put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation
- I am guessing that the price of real estate will rise again
- I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong
- expect, believe, or suppose
- I imagine she earned a lot of money with her new novel
- I thought to find her in a bad state
- he didn't think to find her in the kitchen
- I guess she is angry at me for standing her up