Definition

1. Noun:

   • An estimate based on little or no information: A "guess" is an opinion or answer formed without sufficient evidence or certainty.
   • A message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence: A "guess" can also refer to the statement or idea itself that is proposed tentatively.

2. Verb:

   • To estimate or form an opinion without sufficient evidence: To try to give an answer or form a judgment when you are not sure of all the facts.
   • To suppose or believe something is true: To think something is likely or probable, often based on intuition rather than knowledge.
   • To solve by guessing correctly: To arrive at the right answer through estimation or conjecture.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • That's just a guess, but I think he's about thirty years old.
  • My first guess was wrong, but my second one was correct.

• Verb:

  • Can you guess how many marbles are in the jar?
  • I guess you're right; we should leave now.
  • She guessed the answer to the riddle immediately.

Advanced Usage

• "to take a guess": to make an attempt to answer without being sure.

  • I don't know the exact number, but I'll take a guess.

• "to hazard a guess": to make a guess, especially when it is risky or difficult.

  • It's hard to say, but I'll hazard a guess that sales will improve next quarter.

• "Your guess is as good as mine" (Idiom): Used to say that you do not know the answer to a question and that the person asking likely knows just as much as you do.

  • "When will the meeting end?" – "Your guess is as good as mine."

Variants and Related Words

• Guesser (n): A person who guesses.

  • He was a good guesser and won many carnival games.

• Guesswork (n): The process or results of guessing.

  • The report was based more on guesswork than on solid data.

Synonyms

• Estimate: To roughly calculate or judge the value, number, quantity, or extent of something.
• Suppose: To assume that something is the case based on probability or evidence.
• Conjecture: An opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Guess at: To make a guess about something.
  • We can only guess at the total cost at this early stage.

Related Idioms

• "At a guess": Used when giving an answer that is only approximate.

  • At a guess, I'd say there were fifty people at the party.

• "Second-guess": To criticize or question the actions or decisions of someone, often after the results are known; or to anticipate or predict someone's actions.

  • It's easy to second-guess the coach's strategy now that the game is over.
  • I'm trying to second-guess what the client will ask for next.

Noun

1. an estimate based on little or no information
2. a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence

Verb

1. guess correctly; solve by guessing
   • He guessed the right number of beans in the jar and won the prize
2. judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)
   • I estimate this chicken to weigh three pounds
3. put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation
   • I am guessing that the price of real estate will rise again
   • I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong
4. expect, believe, or suppose
   • I imagine she earned a lot of money with her new novel
   • I thought to find her in a bad state
   • he didn't think to find her in the kitchen
   • I guess she is angry at me for standing her up