guess
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.
to estimate or conjecture about correctly: to guess what a word means.
to think, believe, or suppose: I guess I can get there in time.
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.
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 about 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
1synonym study For guess
Other words for guess
Opposites for guess
Other words from guess
- guess·a·ble, adjective
- guesser, noun
- guess·ing·ly, adverb
- pre·guess, noun, verb
- un·guess·a·ble, adjective
- un·guessed, adjective
Words that may be confused with guess
- guessed , guest
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use guess in a sentence
Actually, the guessing game is over; the weddings have begun, as have weird attempts to circumvent our constitutional democracy.
The Back Alley, Low Blow-Ridden Fight to Stop Gay Marriage in Florida Is Finally Over | Jay Michaelson | January 5, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTHowever, Martin redeemed himself when correctly guessing a fake expletive-laden clue read by Meyers.
Amy Poehler and George R.R. Martin Play Game of ‘Game of Thrones’ | Alex Chancey | October 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThey pick up Ben from Human Services, but only after guessing which of two similar-looking babies he was.
You need to have the freedom to solve the problem the way you want to solve it—and not have somebody second-guessing you.
The Director Isn’t Done Yet: An Interview With Steven Soderbergh | Andrew Romano | August 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThey want to keep the criminals guessing about whether or not they are armed.
And now, Fortunio seeing what was toward, and guessing Garnache's intentions, sought by a rush to force his way into the Chamber.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniIn Diana, Wilding had—though he was far from guessing it—an entirely exceptional ally.
Mistress Wilding | Rafael SabatiniCoronado observed the scene, and guessing how perilous the moment was, pushed forward his uncle to say good-by to Clara.
Overland | John William De Forest"Certainly," returned that far-sighted woman, guessing what the family matters might be, and approving them.
Overland | John William De Forest"My captain won't keep me guessing long, if he's really displeased," reflected Hal, with an inward quiver.
Uncle Sam's Boys as Lieutenants | H. Irving Hancock
British Dictionary definitions for guess
/ (ɡɛs) /
(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
an estimate or conclusion arrived at by guessing: a bad guess
the act of guessing
anyone's guess something difficult to predict
Origin of guess
1Derived forms of guess
- guessable, adjective
- guesser, noun
- guessingly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with guess
see anyone's guess; educated guess; have another guess coming; your guess is as good as mine.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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