Meaning & use

guess

verb·Everyday

To estimate or offer an opinion about something without certain knowledge or proof.

See it in a sentence

I guessed the number of jellybeans in the jar but was off by twenty.

Can you guess why she left the meeting so suddenly this afternoon?

A note on using this word

As a noun, "guess" names the estimate itself ("my best guess"), while "guesstimate" informally means a rough calculation.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. noun

An estimate or opinion formed without complete knowledge or proof.

Her guess turned out to be exactly correct, much to everyone's surprise.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “guess”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.