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Meaning & use

guessing

noun, verb, adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈɡesɪŋ/
US/ˈɡesɪŋ/

“guessing” is a form of “guess”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    The act of forming an opinion or giving an answer without knowing the facts for certain.

    Grammar: Not used with an or a plural: stop the guessing.

    Patterns

    • stop the guessing
    • no more guessing

    The test rewards knowledge, not guessing.

    There was a lot of guessing about who would win.

    Let me check the figures so we can end the guessing.

  2. verbtransitive or intransitive

    The -ing form of guess: giving an estimate or answer based on limited information.

    Grammar: Can take an object or a clause: she is guessing the answer; I am only guessing.

    Patterns

    • be guessing at something
    • keep guessing

    I'm just guessing, but I think the bus is late.

    He is guessing the weight of the cake.

    Stop guessing and read the instructions.

  3. adjectivebefore a noun

    Used before a noun for something involving guesses, especially a game where people try to find a hidden answer.

    Grammar: Appears before a noun: a guessing game.

    Patterns

    • a guessing game

    The children played a guessing game on the long drive.

    It turned into a guessing contest over the jar's contents.

    We held a number-guessing quiz at the party.

Common combinations

guessing game
Predicting the weather here is a guessing game.
keep guessing
I won't tell you, so keep guessing.
stop guessing
Stop guessing and measure the room.
educated guessing
The estimate came from educated guessing rather than data.
leave someone guessing
Her calm face left everyone guessing.

Synonyms and how they differ

estimating
Estimating suggests using some data or reasoning to reach an approximate number, while guessing may use none.
speculation
Speculation is a more formal noun and often covers talk among many people, while guessing is simpler and personal.
conjecture
Conjecture is a formal noun for an opinion based on incomplete evidence, and sounds out of place in casual talk where guessing is natural.

Opposites

knowing

Word family

guess verb
to give an answer without being sure
guess noun
an answer or estimate made without full knowledge
guesser noun
a person who guesses
guesswork noun
the process of guessing, or results found that way

Commonly confused: guessing or guessing?

guessing vs guessing

Learners sometimes misspell it as gessing; remember the u after g, as in guess and guest.

Practice

The prize goes to whoever wins the final round of the ___ game.

Make it your own

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