guess

guess

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "guess" is: /ɡɛs/

Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:

• g: /ɡ/ (voiced velar stop)

• e: /ɛ/ (near-open front unrounded vowel)

• ss: /s/ (voiceless alveolar sibilant)

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Word Form Variations

• guess (singular noun, base verb)

• guesses (plural noun, third-person singular present verb)

• guessed (past tense verb, past participle verb)

• guessing (present participle verb, gerund)

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun:

• Definition 1: A conjecture or supposition; an opinion formed without sufficient evidence or proof.

• Synonyms: hypothesis, conjecture, surmise, speculation, assumption, hunch, estimation, approximation

• Antonyms: fact, certainty, proof, knowledge, verification, demonstration

• Definition 2: An attempt to estimate or predict something without definite knowledge.

• Synonyms: try, stab, shot, effort, prediction, estimation

• Antonyms: calculation, measurement, analysis, determination

Verb:

• Definition 1: To form a conjecture or supposition about something.

• Synonyms: speculate, surmise, hypothesize, conjecture, assume, suppose, presume, estimate

• Antonyms: know, ascertain, prove, demonstrate, verify, confirm, calculate

• Definition 2: To attempt to estimate or predict something without definite knowledge.

• Synonyms: estimate, approximate, predict, hazard, venture, speculate, try, take a stab at

• Antonyms: calculate, measure, determine, analyze, know precisely

Adjective:

While "guess" isn't commonly used as an adjective, you might see "guesswork" used adjectivally, as in "guesswork calculations." It's better to think of "guess" as a noun being used attributively (modifying another noun). For example: "a guess estimate."

• guesswork (attributive/noun used as adjective): Based on or involving guesswork; uncertain, approximate.

• Synonyms: speculative, conjectural, uncertain, approximate, rough, estimated

• Antonyms: precise, accurate, certain, definite, calculated

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Examples of Use

Books:

• "I guess that's the end of that," he said, sighing. (Example of fictional dialogue)

• The author uses historical records and educated guesses to reconstruct the events of that period. (Example of non-fiction, highlighting speculation)

Newspapers/Online Publications:

• Analysts are making educated guesses about the impact of the new policy. (News article about economic forecasts) (Example of reporting speculation)

• "It's hard to guess what the future holds," the CEO said in an interview. (Quote from a news article about business uncertainty) (Example of direct quote)

• Readers are invited to guess the name of the royal baby in our online poll. (Example of interactive content)

Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• "You'll never guess what happened next!" (Common phrase used in storytelling, movies, TV shows, and online videos to create suspense)

• The game show features contestants trying to guess the price of various items. (Description of a game show premise)

• "Just guess how many jelly beans are in this jar!" (Example of a common party game or contest)

• "I guess I'll just have to wait and see," she muttered to herself in the movie. (Example of dialogue from a film)

General Public Discourse:

• "I guess so," is a common phrase indicating mild agreement or acceptance. (Example of everyday conversation)

• "Take a guess," is a common prompt used when asking someone to speculate or estimate something. (Example of everyday conversation)

• "It's anyone's guess," is a common idiom expressing uncertainty about an outcome. (Example of everyday conversation)

• "I'd guess it's about 8 o'clock," someone might say when asked for the time if they don't have a watch. (Example of everyday conversation)

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10 Famous Quotes Using Guess

1. “Take a wild guess — that’s how most discoveries begin.” — Original

2. “Sometimes you don’t need to know — you just need to guess and leap.” — Original

3. “I guess I’m just a dreamer with decent timing.” — Original

4. “Never underestimate the power of a good guess backed by quiet confidence.” — Original

5. “Life doesn’t come with instructions. Just a bunch of guesses we call decisions.” — Original

6. “Guessing is the beginning of knowing.” — Original

7. “You can’t always plan the right move — sometimes you guess, and it works out.” — Original

8. “I guess we all grow up eventually, just not at the same speed or with the same scars.” — Original

9. “Every expert was once a beginner taking a lucky guess.” — Original

10. “I’d rather take a wrong guess than live in silence forever.” — Original

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Etymology

The word "guess" comes from Old Norse, specifically the word gissa. Think of the Vikings! Gissa meant "to guess, to suppose." This Old Norse word is the direct ancestor of our English word.

The first known use of "guess" in English (that we have records of) was around the 13th century. At that time, it carried the same basic meaning it has today: to form an opinion or conjecture about something without firm evidence. So, even back then, "guess" was about making an educated (or not-so-educated!) stab at what might be true.

It's interesting to note that the word hasn't changed its core meaning much over the centuries. We still use it to talk about speculating, estimating, and making assumptions. The way we use it has evolved with our language, but the fundamental idea of "guessing" has remained consistent. So, when you say "I guess...", you're echoing the Vikings who were saying gissa centuries ago!

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Guess

Common Phrases (Not quite idioms):

• "I guess so": Mild agreement or acceptance.

• "I guess not": Mild disagreement or rejection.

• "Take a guess": A common prompt inviting someone to speculate.

• "It's anyone's guess": Expressing uncertainty about an outcome.

• "Guess what?": Used to introduce surprising or interesting news.

Why "guess" is limited in idioms: "Guess" typically describes a simple act of speculation. Idioms often involve more colorful or figurative language. "Guess" is already fairly direct, so it doesn't lend itself as easily to metaphorical extensions.

Related Expressions (Synonyms and similar concepts):

Since "guess" is about speculation, here are some idioms and phrases that capture that idea:

• "To take a shot in the dark": To make a guess with very little information.

• "To hazard a guess": To venture a guess, often implying some risk of being wrong.

• "To make a stab at it": To attempt something, even if the outcome is uncertain.

• "To play it by ear": To proceed cautiously and adapt to circumstances, implying some guesswork.

• "To read between the lines": To infer something that is not explicitly stated, which involves a degree of guessing.

• "To have a hunch": To have a strong feeling or intuition about something, a form of guessing.

• "To speculate": To form a theory or conjecture without firm evidence.

• "To surmise": To suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it.

Lesser-Known/Original Examples:

• "A wild guess": A completely uninformed guess.

• "A lucky guess": A correct guess that was largely based on chance.

• "Guessing game": A situation where there is much speculation or uncertainty. (This is close to an idiom but still quite literal).

• "I'm fresh out of guesses": I have no more ideas or speculations.

While "guess" itself doesn't generate a huge number of idioms, the concept of guessing is richly represented in the language, as the related expressions above demonstrate.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of guess from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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