From Middle English gessen (verb) and Middle English gesse (noun), probably of North Germanic origin, from Old Danish getse, gitse, getsa (“to guess”), from Old Norse *getsa, *gitsa, from Proto-Germanic *gitisōną (“to guess”), from Proto-Germanic *getaną (“to get”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- (“to take, seize”).
Cognate with Danish gisne (“to guess”), Norwegian gissa, gjette (“to guess”), Swedish gissa (“to guess”), Saterland Frisian gisje (“to guess”), Dutch gissen (“to guess”), Low German gissen (“to guess”), Dutch gis (“a guess”). Related also to Icelandic giska ("to guess"; from Proto-Germanic *gitiskōną). Compare also Russian гада́ть (gadátʹ, “to conjecture, guess, divine”), Albanian gjëzë (“riddle”) from gjej (“find, recover, obtain”). More at get.
Meanings
A prediction about the outcome of something, typically made without factual evidence or support.
"But I shall have eleven guesses," answered Ozma. "Surely I ought to guess one object in eleven correctly; and, if I do, I shall rescue one of the royal family and be safe myself. Then the rest of you may attempt it, and soon we shall free all those who are enslaved." 1907, L. Frank Baum, Ozma of Oz:
If you don't know the answer, take a guess.
We are twelve billion light years from the edge / That's a guess 2005, Mike Batt, “Nine Million Bicycles”, performed by Katie Melua:
cs odhad (prediction about the outcome of something) · ml ഊഹം (prediction about the outcome of something) · fi veikkaus (prediction about the outcome of something) · ja 推測 (prediction about the outcome of something) · ceb panaghap (prediction about the outcome of something) · ga amas (prediction about the outcome of something) · fr conjecture (prediction about the outcome of something) · bg предположе́ние (prediction about the outcome of something) · nl raden (prediction about the outcome of something) · bg дога́дка (prediction about the outcome of something) · ru дога́дка (prediction about the outcome of something) · da gæt (prediction about the outcome of something) · pt suposição (prediction about the outcome of something) · de Vermutung (prediction about the outcome of something) · cmn 猜測 /猜测 (prediction about the outcome of something) · gd tuairmse (prediction about the outcome of something) · nl gok (prediction about the outcome of something) · uk здо́гадка (prediction about the outcome of something) · nl gissing (prediction about the outcome of something) · gd tomhas (prediction about the outcome of something) · no gjetning (prediction about the outcome of something) · ga tomhas (prediction about the outcome of something) · be здага́дка (prediction about the outcome of something) · ckb مەزەندە (prediction about the outcome of something) · pl zgadnięcie (prediction about the outcome of something) · lt spėjimas (prediction about the outcome of something) · om tilmaama (prediction about the outcome of something) · es cábala (prediction about the outcome of something) · hi अटकल (prediction about the outcome of something) · el εικασία (prediction about the outcome of something) · uk до́гад (prediction about the outcome of something) · uk здога́дка (prediction about the outcome of something) · uk здо́гад (prediction about the outcome of something) · id tebakan (prediction about the outcome of something) · hi अनुमान (prediction about the outcome of something) · it congettura (prediction about the outcome of something) · ca conjectura (prediction about the outcome of something) · ga buille faoi thuairim (prediction about the outcome of something) · pt conjectura (prediction about the outcome of something) · es adivinación (prediction about the outcome of something) · nl gis (prediction about the outcome of something) · uk до́гадка (prediction about the outcome of something) · es adivinamiento (prediction about the outcome of something) · ko 추측 (prediction about the outcome of something) · ang rǣdels (prediction about the outcome of something) · la coniectūra (prediction about the outcome of something) · sv gissning (prediction about the outcome of something) · sq hamendje (prediction about the outcome of something) · fa حدس (prediction about the outcome of something) · ga amhras (prediction about the outcome of something) · uk дога́дка (prediction about the outcome of something) · be дага́дка (prediction about the outcome of something) · tr tahmin (prediction about the outcome of something) · sq supozim (prediction about the outcome of something) · vi sự đoán (prediction about the outcome of something) · ga barúil (prediction about the outcome of something) · nl veronderstelling (prediction about the outcome of something) · gd barail (prediction about the outcome of something) · fi arvaus (prediction about the outcome of something)
From Middle English gessen (verb) and Middle English gesse (noun), probably of North Germanic origin, from Old Danish getse, gitse, getsa (“to guess”), from Old Norse *getsa, *gitsa, from Proto-Germanic *gitisōną (“to guess”), from Proto-Germanic *getaną (“to get”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- (“to take, seize”).
Cognate with Danish gisne (“to guess”), Norwegian gissa, gjette (“to guess”), Swedish gissa (“to guess”), Saterland Frisian gisje (“to guess”), Dutch gissen (“to guess”), Low German gissen (“to guess”), Dutch gis (“a guess”). Related also to Icelandic giska ("to guess"; from Proto-Germanic *gitiskōną). Compare also Russian гада́ть (gadátʹ, “to conjecture, guess, divine”), Albanian gjëzë (“riddle”) from gjej (“find, recover, obtain”). More at get.
Meanings
To reach a partly (or totally) unconfirmed conclusion; to engage in conjecture; to speculate.
We can only guess at what was going through her mind.
She guessed that the delivery driver must have got stuck in traffic.
To solve by a correct conjecture; to conjecture rightly.
You will never guess what happened next.
You guessed the right answer!
He who guesses the riddle shall have the ring.
To suppose, to imagine (introducing a proposition of uncertain plausibility).
"Are you a member of the union?"
"Sure."
"Then you'll get your job, I guess. Have you any friends?" 1914–1915, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Valley of Fear:
Not all together; better far, I guess, / That we do make our entrance several ways. c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
That album is quite hard to find, but I guess you could try ordering it online.
But in known images of life I guess / The labour greater. 1733–1737, Alexander Pope, [Imitations of Horace], London: […] R[obert] Dodsley [et al.]:
(colloquial) To think, conclude, or decide (without a connotation of uncertainty). Usually in first person: "I guess".
"I guess I'll go to bed."
"I guess you were right." "What did he say?" "He guesses you were right."
(obsolete) To hit upon or reproduce by memory.
Tell me their words, as near as thou canst guess them. c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
yi טרעפֿן (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · hu gondol (to suppose, to imagine) · fi luulla (to suppose, to imagine) · sq e zem (to suppose, to imagine) · uk угада́ти (to solve by a correct conjecture) · cmn 推測 /推测 (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · grc τοπάζω (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · gl acertar (to solve by a correct conjecture) · ml ഊഹിക്കുക (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · mwl adebinar (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · gl coidar (to suppose, to imagine) · bg отга́твам (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ja 憶測する (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ja 推測する (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · pl zgadnąć (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ang rǣswan (to suppose, to imagine) · la dīvīnō (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · da gisne (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · vi phỏng đoán (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · id mengira (to suppose, to imagine) · sh nagoditi (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · nn gjetta (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · hi अनुमान (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · hi अनुमान (to suppose, to imagine) · is giska (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ca suposar (to suppose, to imagine) · be адга́дваць (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · vi đoán ra (to solve by a correct conjecture) · vi đoán (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · nb gjette (to solve by a correct conjecture) · uk вгада́ти (to solve by a correct conjecture) · lt atspė́ti (to solve by a correct conjecture) · hu eltalál (to solve by a correct conjecture) · pl domniemywać (to suppose, to imagine) · fi muistaa ((obsolete in English) to hit upon or reproduce by memory) · be угада́ць (to solve by a correct conjecture) · id berpikir (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · el εικάζω (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · nn gissa (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · gl adiviñar (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ar خَمَّنَ (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · vi nghĩ (to suppose, to imagine) · cy dyfalu (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · id kira (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · sh ва̀љда (to suppose, to imagine) · ml ഊഹം (to think, conclude, or decide without a connotation of uncertainty) · de erraten (to solve by a correct conjecture) · ko 추측하다 (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · fi arvata (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ru гада́ть (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · id mengira (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · id pikir (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · nap addivinà (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · sh претпо̀стављати (to suppose, to imagine) · uk відгада́ти (to solve by a correct conjecture) · la facio (to suppose, to imagine) · eo diveni (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · id menyangka (to suppose, to imagine) · ang rǣdan (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · it supporre (to suppose, to imagine) · hu kitalál (to solve by a correct conjecture) · de vergegenwärtigen ((obsolete in English) to hit upon or reproduce by memory) · ro ghici (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · fr supposer (to suppose, to imagine) · ru отгада́ть (to solve by a correct conjecture) · it indovinare (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · sq gjej (to solve by a correct conjecture) · sk hádať (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · nb anta (to suppose, to imagine) · hu asszem (to think, conclude, or decide without a connotation of uncertainty) · fi luulla (to think, conclude, or decide without a connotation of uncertainty) · nl gissen (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · io divinar (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · de sich ins Gedächtnis zurückrufen ((obsolete in English) to hit upon or reproduce by memory) · sv gissa (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · sv tro (to suppose, to imagine) · nb formode (to suppose, to imagine) · uk уга́дувати (to solve by a correct conjecture) · pl przypuszczać (to suppose, to imagine) · hu találgat (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · vi chắc rằng (to suppose, to imagine) · ar حزر (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · fa گمانیدن (to think, conclude, or decide without a connotation of uncertainty) · nl veronderstellen (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · nn gjete (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · uk здогада́тися (to solve by a correct conjecture) · pt supor (to suppose, to imagine) · la fingo (to suppose, to imagine) · fi veikata (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · id menebak (to solve by a correct conjecture) · nn gjeta (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ru погада́ть (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · it azzeccare (to solve by a correct conjecture) · cs uhádnout (to solve by a correct conjecture) · da gætte (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ru полага́ть (to suppose, to imagine) · ru угада́ть (to solve by a correct conjecture) · ml ഊഹിക്കുക (to suppose, to imagine) · pt achar (to suppose, to imagine) · de denken (to suppose, to imagine) · be адгада́ць (to solve by a correct conjecture) · eo supozi (to solve by a correct conjecture) · uk припуска́ти (to suppose, to imagine) · uk припуска́ти (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · el υποθέτω (to suppose, to imagine) · lt manýti (to think, conclude, or decide without a connotation of uncertainty) · sh vàljda (to suppose, to imagine) · de raten (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · vi nghĩ ra (to solve by a correct conjecture) · vec intivar (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · alt молјо- (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · bg отга́твам (to solve by a correct conjecture) · bho ताड़ल (to suppose, to imagine) · uk відга́дувати (to solve by a correct conjecture) · ga tomhais (to solve by a correct conjecture) · cs předpokládat (to suppose, to imagine) · hi अनुमान (to solve by a correct conjecture) · uk вга́дувати (to solve by a correct conjecture) · hu tippel (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · fr deviner (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · la sumo (to suppose, to imagine) · tr tahmin etmek (to suppose, to imagine) · hu saccol (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · bg досе́щам се (to solve by a correct conjecture) · be адгада́ць (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · hu sejt (to suppose, to imagine) · ja 当てる (to solve by a correct conjecture) · be адга́дваць (to solve by a correct conjecture) · uk припусти́ти (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · hu vél (to suppose, to imagine) · sq hamendësoj (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · es barruntar (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · de schätzen (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · hi अटकल (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · sv förmoda (to suppose, to imagine) · nl raden (to solve by a correct conjecture) · bg предпола́гам (to suppose, to imagine) · be меркава́ць (to suppose, to imagine) · th เดา (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · de rekapitulieren ((obsolete in English) to hit upon or reproduce by memory) · el μάλλον (to suppose, to imagine) · mn таах (to solve by a correct conjecture) · be уга́дваць (to solve by a correct conjecture) · is geta (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · sh nagađati (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ml ഊഹിക്കുക (to solve by a correct conjecture) · ja 言い当てる (to solve by a correct conjecture) · el μαντεύω (to solve by a correct conjecture) · pl odgadnąć (to solve by a correct conjecture) · pt adivinhar (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ga tomhais (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · hu feltesz (to suppose, to imagine) · de erinnern ((obsolete in English) to hit upon or reproduce by memory) · de denken (to think, conclude, or decide without a connotation of uncertainty) · cmn 猜測 /猜测 (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · mn таах (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ang rǣdan (to suppose, to imagine) · uk здога́дуватися (to solve by a correct conjecture) · pl odgadywać (to solve by a correct conjecture) · ms agak (to solve by a correct conjecture) · ru отга́дывать (to solve by a correct conjecture) · az tapmaq (to solve by a correct conjecture) · de vermuten (to suppose, to imagine) · he נִיחֵשׁ (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · sl uganiti (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · sh pretpòstavljati (to suppose, to imagine) · de glauben (to suppose, to imagine) · pt adivinhar (to solve by a correct conjecture) · it presumere (to suppose, to imagine) · ro bănui (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ca obtenir (to solve by a correct conjecture) · vec indovinar (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ru уга́дывать (to solve by a correct conjecture) · gd tomhais (to solve by a correct conjecture) · de glauben (to think, conclude, or decide without a connotation of uncertainty) · sv gissa (to solve by a correct conjecture) · ro presupune (to suppose, to imagine) · fr déduire (to solve by a correct conjecture) · gd tomhais (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · tl nahulaan (to solve by a correct conjecture) · ms anggar (to solve by a correct conjecture) · bg гада́я (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · cs hádat (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · pl mniemać (to suppose, to imagine) · ro bănui (to suppose, to imagine) · th เดา (to suppose, to imagine) · fr imaginer (to suppose, to imagine) · lt spė́ti (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · el υποθέτω (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · hu (azt) hisz (to think, conclude, or decide without a connotation of uncertainty) · fa حدسیدن (to suppose, to imagine) · tl manghula (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · pt deduzir (to solve by a correct conjecture) · ang rǣdan (to solve by a correct conjecture) · ca endevinar (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · pl zgadywać (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ru отгада́ть (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ru отга́дывать (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · nb gjette (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · cmn 猜 (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ru угада́ть (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ru уга́дывать (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ja 察する (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · ru догада́ться (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · grc ὑπονοέω (to suppose, to imagine) · ru дога́дываться (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · bg гадая (to think, conclude, or decide without a connotation of uncertainty) · fi ratkaista (to solve by a correct conjecture) · fy ergje (to reach an unconfirmed conclusion) · gl adiviñar (to solve by a correct conjecture) · tl siguro (to suppose, to imagine)