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

Spruce Pine’s system is so old that Butler has no idea when its pipes were laid, though she guesses it was 60 years ago.

From Salon

Said Garbers: “I was looking at the marker and I thought I was past it. But I guess they blow the forward progress dead early. So, can’t control that.”

From Los Angeles Times

"My guess? The real project is on the horizon".

From BBC

I won’t tell you the ending, but perhaps you can guess.

From New York Times

And if I can hazard a wild guess, I don’t think the senders really wanted me to have a great day.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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

More About Guess

What is a basic definition of guess?

Guess means to attempt to provide an answer to something without knowing with certainty that it is correct. When you guess in this way, you don’t have enough information to know for sure. Guess is also a noun that refers to the answer that you give in such a situation. Guess also means to believe or suppose. Guess has a few other senses as a noun and a verb and is used in several idioms.

When you guess, it means you’re trying to provide the right answer even though you don’t have enough information to know what it is.

Real-life examples: People guess things because they don’t know all the details or because there is not enough information available. People often guess what the weather will be like, or what the future may hold, or what the right answer is to a question on a test.

Used in a sentence: I had no clue what her favorite color was so I guessed that it was red. 

Guess is also commonly used as a noun to refer to the answer arrived at by a person who is guessing. A guess usually relies on luck or hope because a person doesn’t have enough information.

Used in a sentence: I thought my prediction had a chance to come true, but my guess turned out to be wrong. 

As a verb, guess is also used as a synonym for words like think, believe, and suppose—it can mean to feel that something might be possible, doable, or feasible.

Used in a sentence: I guess I can make it to the bank before it closes.

Where does guess come from?

The first records of the word guess come from the early 1300s. It comes from the Middle English gessen and may be Scandanavian in origin. The noun sense of guess comes from the Middle English gesse, which is based on the verb.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to guess?

• guessable (adjective)
• guesser (noun)

What are some synonyms for guess?

• believe
• think
• suppose

What are some words that share a root or word element with guess? 

 

• guesstimate
• guesswork
• guess again
• anyone’s guess
• your guess is as good as mine

What are some words that often get used in discussing guess?

• answer
• question
• wild
• lucky
• what
• take

How is guess used in real life?

Guess is used in the context of someone trying to come up with a right answer when they aren’t sure about something.

I asked my students how old they think I am and one class guessed 24-28. Bless them.

— Howie Hua (@howie_hua) November 20, 2020

listen I don’t know why I keep singing the scooby doo theme song ok. My best guess is I’m about to solve a mystery

— Sydnee Warren🕴🏻 (@SydneeW1) November 23, 2020

We also enjoyed playing a game of 'Guess the Coronation Street character' with @juliagoulding (aka Shona) in the Platts house. Loved this, definitely a game #coronationstreet should bring out! #Corrie60 pic.twitter.com/3sagLKQI1N

— Thomas A Cliffe (@cliffesathome) December 14, 2020

 

 

Try using guess!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of guess?

A. believe
B. think
C. suppose
D. know