Guess

To form an opinion or make a prediction about something without having all the necessary information or facts; to estimate or surmise. A guess involves using intuition, past experiences, and limited data to arrive at a possible answer, solution, or understanding. It often implies a degree of uncertainty or a lack of definitive proof, distinguishing it from reasoned conclusions based on complete knowledge. A guess can be a casual attempt at answering a question or a more considered hypothesis in a scientific context. The accuracy of a guess can vary greatly, from a wild shot in the dark to a well-informed deduction, influenced by the context and available cues.

Guess meaning with examples

• Looking at the storm clouds gathering, I had to guess it would rain soon. I didn't have a weather report, just my observations of the sky and wind. It was mostly a shot in the dark, but with experience, one can often improve their odds.
• The detective had to guess who the real murderer was given the limited clues at the crime scene. He used his knowledge of human behavior and forensics and analyzed motives. The investigation was a process of intelligent guessing.
• When trying to solve the riddle, I decided to guess the final answer based on the hints I had heard. There was no apparent pattern to suggest a reasonable answer, so I needed to rely on luck.
• Before submitting the answer, I took a moment to carefully guess what the author's intended meaning in the poem might be. It involved interpreting the symbolism based on an incomplete understanding, and relying on my experience.
• During the final exam, the student was forced to guess at a few of the answers because they had not studied enough. This resulted in some of their answers to be incorrect, yet some may still be correct.