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.
OTHER WORDS FROM guess
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH guess
guessed guestWords nearby guess
Example sentences from the Web for guess
British Dictionary definitions for guess
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, adverbWord Origin for guess
C13: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Swedish
gissa, Old Danish
gitse, Middle Dutch
gissen; see
get
Idioms and Phrases with guess
guess
see anyone's guess; educated guess; have another guess coming; your guess is as good as mine.