guess

noun countable

UK /ɡes/

Word Forms

singular	guess
plural	guesses

1
the action of saying what you think is true or will happen, without being certain
have/make/take a guess:
Have a guess and then check it on your calculator.
guess at:
Take a guess at what’s behind this screen.
guess as to:
a guess as to the number of people who might come
rough guess (=one that is not expected to be accurate):
At a rough guess, I’d say there were twenty people in the room.
wild guess (=one that is very unlikely to be accurate):
OK, I’ll make a wild guess, but I really don’t know.
good/lucky/inspired guess:
The researchers made several inspired guesses about how the brain works.
educated/informed guess (=one that is based on some knowledge):
I could probably make an educated guess.
hazard a guess (=make a guess that will probably not be accurate):
We can only hazard a guess at what happened.
Synonyms and related words
Guesses and estimates
guess
estimate
speculation
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with guess
▪ educated, good, informed, inspired, lucky, rough, wild

phrases

at a guess

best guess

I’ll give you three guesses

something is anyone’s guess

my guess is (that)

your guess is as good as mine

guess

noun countable

US /ɡes/

Word Forms

singular	guess
plural	guesses

1
the action of saying what you think is true or will happen, without being certain
make/take a guess:
Make a guess and then check it on your calculator.
guess at:
Take a guess at what’s behind this screen.
hazard a guess (=make a guess that will probably not be accurate):
We can only hazard a guess at what happened.
guess as to:
a guess as to the number of people who might come
rough guess (=one that is not expected to be accurate):
At a rough guess, I’d say there were twenty people in the room.
wild guess (=one that is very unlikely to be accurate):
OK, I’ll make a wild guess, but I really don’t know.
good/lucky/inspired guess:
The researchers made several inspired guesses about how the brain works.
educated/informed guess (=one that is based on some knowledge):
I could probably make an educated guess.
Synonyms and related words
Guesses and estimates
guess
estimate
speculation
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with guess
▪ educated, good, informed, inspired, lucky, rough, wild

phrases

at a guess

best guess

I’ll give you three guesses

my guess is (that)

something is anyone’s guess

your guess is as good as mine

guess

verb intransitive/transitive

UK /ɡes/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	guess
he/she/it	guesses
present participle	guessing
past tense	guessed
past participle	guessed

1
to say or decide what you think is true, without being certain about it
a competition to guess the weight of the pig
guess at:
It’s difficult even to guess at the figures.
guess something as something:
He guessed her age as 14 or 15.
guess what/who/how etc:
Would anyone like to guess what this object is?
guess (that):
She guessed that it was about midday from the position of the sun.
guess as to something:
Scientists are really still guessing as to the true cause of ice ages.
guess correctly/right:
Whoever guesses correctly will win two tickets to the show.
Synonyms and related words
To guess
guess
estimate
gauge
1. 1a
  to be correct about something that you guess
  He had already guessed the answer.
  Surely she would guess the truth.
  guess about:
  He wondered whether she knew or guessed about Amy.
  guess (that):
  Tim guessed she was awake.
  I expect you’ve guessed by now that I lost the fight.
  guess something from something:
  She guessed from the noise that her brothers were home.
  not be hard to guess something:
  From his expression, it wasn’t hard to guess what had happened.
  Synonyms and related words
  To guess
  guess
  estimate
  gauge

phrases

guess what

I guess

I/you/he etc can only guess

I/you/she etc would never guess

keep someone guessing

let me guess

you can guess

you’ll never guess

you’ve guessed it

guess

verb intransitive/transitive

US /ɡes/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	guess
he/she/it	guesses
present participle	guessing
past tense	guessed
past participle	guessed

1
to say or decide what you think is true, without being certain about it
a contest to guess the weight of the pig
guess what/who/how etc.:
Would anyone like to guess what this object is?
guess at:
It’s difficult even to guess at the figures.
guess something as something:
He guessed her age as 14 or 15.
guess as to something:
Scientists are really still guessing as to the true cause of ice ages.
guess (that):
She guessed that it was about midday from the position of the sun.
guess correctly/right:
Whoever guesses correctly will win two tickets to the show.
Synonyms and related words
To guess
guess
estimate
gauge
1. 1a
  to be correct about something that you guess
  He had already guessed the answer.
  Surely she would guess the truth.
  guess (that):
  Tim guessed she was awake.
  I expect you’ve guessed by now that I lost the fight.
  guess something from something:
  She guessed from the noise that her brothers were home.
  guess about:
  He wondered whether she knew or guessed about Amy.
  not be hard to guess something:
  From his expression, it wasn’t hard to guess what had happened.
  Synonyms and related words
  To guess
  guess
  estimate
  gauge

phrases

guess what

I guess

I/you/he etc. can only guess

I/you/she etc. would never guess

keep someone guessing

let me guess

you can guess

you’ll never guess

you’ve guessed it

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