Dictionary

outguess en · VERB

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úd Proto-Germanic *ūt Proto-Germanic *ūt- Old English ūt- Middle English ut- English out- English guess English outguess From out- + guess.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To beat through accurate anticipation of someone's plans and actions.
   • It has been the dream of socialist governments to outguess markets by investing in winning industries that would provide the wherewithal to support their social welfare programs. 1982 March 14, Aaron Wildavsky, “AGAINST REAGANOMICS”, in The New York Times:
   • Naomi Novik, His Majesty's Dragon "Trying to out-guess Bonaparte; the thought makes my blood run cold."
   • Money managers who play down currencies tend to argue that outguessing foreign exchange markets in the short term is perilous, and that, over the long haul, shifts in currency values tend to offset one another. 1986 May 25, William G. McBride, “INVESTING; CHASING RETURNS IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES”, in The New York Times:
   • Switching on “Jeopardy,” she simultaneously, talks to her baby, pages through the paper, and outguesses the TV contestants. 1972 December 5, “A Day in the Life of a Welfare Mother”, in The New York Times:
   • He outguessed, outscored, and outguarded the Tiger, though the latter in a guard position showed that he was a real basketball man. 1921, The Colorado School of Mines Magazine - Volumes 11-13, page 22:

Forms

Synonyms

outsmart · outfox · outwit