guess

[ ges ]

verb (used with object)

1. to arrive at or commit oneself to an opinion about (something) without having sufficient evidence to support the opinion fully:

   to guess a person's weight.

   Synonyms: hazard

2. to estimate or conjecture about correctly:

   to guess what a word means.

3. to think, believe, or suppose:

   I guess I can get there in time.

   Synonyms: imagine, fancy

   Antonyms: know

verb (used without object)

1. to form an estimate or conjecture (often followed by at or about ):

   We guessed at the weight of the package.

2. to estimate or conjecture correctly.

noun

1. an opinion that one reaches or to which one commits oneself on the basis of probability alone or in the absence of any evidence whatever.

   Synonyms: supposition

2. the act of forming such an opinion:

   to take a guess at someone's weight.

guess

/ ɡɛs /

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by at or about to form or express an uncertain estimate or conclusion (about something), based on insufficient information

   guess what we're having for dinner

2. to arrive at a correct estimate of (something) by guessing

   he guessed my age

3. informal.
   to believe, think, or suppose (something)

   I guess I'll go now

4. keep a person guessing
   to let a person remain in a state of uncertainty

noun

1. an estimate or conclusion arrived at by guessing

   a bad guess

2. the act of guessing
3. anyone's guess
   something difficult to predict

Derived Forms

• ˈguessingly, adverb
• ˈguesser, noun
• ˈguessable, adjective

Other Words From

• guess·a·ble adjective
• guess·er noun
• guess·ing·ly adverb
• pre·guess noun verb
• un·guess·a·ble adjective
• un·guessed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of guess¹

First recorded in 1300–50; (for the verb) Middle English gessen, perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Swedish, Danish, Norwegian gissa, Middle Low German gissen, Middle Dutch gessen, Old Norse geta; noun derivative of the verb; get

Word History and Origins

Origin of guess¹

C13: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Swedish gissa, Old Danish gitse, Middle Dutch gissen; see get

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. by guess and by gosh, Northern U.S. using a combination of guesswork and reliance on luck; hit or miss. Also by guess and by golly.

More idioms and phrases containing guess

see anyone's guess ; educated guess ; have another guess coming ; your guess is as good as mine .

Synonym Study

Guess, guess at, conjecture, surmise imply attempting to form an opinion as to the probable. To guess is to risk an opinion regarding something one does not know about, or, wholly or partly by chance, to arrive at the correct answer to a question: to guess the outcome of a game. Guess at implies more haphazard or random guessing: to guess at the solution of a crime. To conjecture is to make inferences in the absence of sufficient evidence to establish certainty: to conjecture the circumstances of the crime. Surmise implies making an intuitive conjecture that may or may not be correct: to surmise the motives that led to it.

Example Sentences

"I was fortunate to get some extra years out of my career and complete cycling, I guess. The majority of athletes will never get to go out on a fairytale ending," he added.

From BBC

“Your guess is as good as mine,” McVay said, adding, “It’s been some challenging, unique circumstances for sure. You certainly hope so, but here we are 10 weeks in and it just seems like you’re getting more resilient to handle it.”

From Los Angeles Times

“We are — I guess fortunately and unfortunately — the biggest player in the county,” said Stephen Watson, the executive director of the council.

From Los Angeles Times

"I guess it’s taken a long time. But I finally feel comfortable in my own skin and I feel proud of the music," he says.

From BBC

"It is tough when you are up against it and you need to shake that negative energy I guess and move on," the Bristol Bears prop added.

From BBC

Related Words

• believe
• calculate
• divine
• fathom
• infer
• predict
• presume
• pretend
• solve
• speculate
• suggest
• suppose
• surmise
• think