What does “guess” mean?
- 1
verbto give an answer without knowing for sure
Guess how old my grandmother is.
- 2
verbto suppose or think something (informal US)
I guess we should go home now.
- 3
nounan answer or opinion that you are not sure is correct
If you don’t know, just make a guess.
Guess at a glance
- Part of speech
- verb & noun
- CEFR level
- A2 (elementary)
- Pronunciation
- /ɡɛs/ · GES
How to use “guess” correctly
We “make” or “take” a guess, not “do” a guess. “Guess what?” is used to introduce surprising news.
Common phrases with “guess”
- make a guess
- I guess so
- guess what
- a lucky guess
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- estimate
- suppose
Idioms with “guess”
- Your guess is as good as mine: Used to say that you do not know the answer any more than the other person does.
“guess” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- accept verbA2to take or agree to something that is offered
- compare verbA2to look at two or more things to see how they are alike or different
- decide verbA2to choose something after thinking about it
- expect verbA2to think that something will probably happen
- imagine verbA2to form a picture or idea of something in your mind
- notice verbA2to see or become aware of something
- pick verbA2to choose someone or something from a group
- seem verbA2to give the impression of being or doing something