guess

[ ges ]
/ gɛs /

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

to form an estimate or conjecture (often followed by at or about): We guessed at the weight of the package.
to estimate or conjecture correctly.

noun

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.
the act of forming such an opinion: to take a guess at someone's weight.

Idioms for guess

    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.

Origin of guess

1300–50; (v.) Middle English gessen, perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Swedish, Danish, Norwegian gissa, Middle Low German gissen, Middle Dutch gessen, Old Norse geta; (noun) Middle English gesse, derivative of the v. See get

SYNONYMS FOR guess

1 hazard.
1, 2, 4 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.
3 fancy, imagine.
6 supposition.

ANTONYMS FOR guess

3 know.

OTHER WORDS FROM guess

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH guess

guessed guest

Words nearby guess

guerrilla, guerrilla theater, guerrilla warfare, guesclin, guesde, guess, guess again, guesstimate, guesswork, guest, guest beer

Example sentences from the Web for guessable

  • Where the colonel fits is guessable enough, Mr. Yardo is presumably Expert at something but no data on what.

    The Lost Kafoozalum |Pauline Ashwell

British Dictionary definitions for guessable

guess
/ (ɡɛs) /

verb (when tr, may take a clause as object)

(when intr, 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
to arrive at a correct estimate of (something) by guessing he guessed my age
informal, mainly US and Canadian to believe, think, or suppose (something) I guess I'll go now
keep a person guessing to let a person remain in a state of uncertainty

noun

Derived forms of guess

guessable, adjective guesser, noun guessingly, adverb

Word Origin for guess

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

Idioms and Phrases with guessable

guess

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