/ ges; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
guess (at sth) to try and give an answer or make a judgement about sth without being sure of all the facts :
[ v ]
I don't really know. I'm just guessing.
We can only guess at her reasons for leaving.
He guessed right / wrong .
[ v ( that )]
I'd guess that she's about 30.
[ v wh- ]
Can you guess where I've been?
[ vn ]
Can you guess his age?
2.
to find the right answer to a question or the truth without knowing all the facts :
[ vn ]
She guessed the answer straight away.
[ v wh- ]
You'll never guess what she told me.
[ v ( that )]
You would never guess (that) she had problems. She's always so cheerful.
—see also second-guess
3.
I guess ( informal , especially NAmE ) to suppose that sth is true or likely :
[ v ( that )]
I guess (that) you'll be looking for a new job now.
'He didn't see me, I guess.'
'Are you ready to go?' 'Yeah, I guess so .'
'They aren't coming, then?' ' I guess not .'
4.
guess ... ! used to show that you are going to say sth surprising or exciting : [ vn ]
Guess what! He's asked me out!
[ v wh- ]
Guess who I've just seen!
•
IDIOMS
- keep sb guessing
■ noun
guess (about sth) | guess (at sth) | guess (that ... ) an attempt to give an answer or an opinion when you cannot be certain if you are right :
( BrE )
to have / make a guess (at sth)
( NAmE )
to take a guess
Go on! Have a guess!
The article is based on guesses about what might happen in the future.
They might be here by 3—but that's just a rough guess (= not exact) .
My guess is that we won't hear from him again.
At a guess , there were forty people at the party.
If I might hazard a guess , I'd say she was about thirty.
Who do you think I saw yesterday? I'll give you three guesses .
•
IDIOMS
- anybody's / anyone's guess
- your guess is as good as mine
—more at educated
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : origin uncertain; perhaps from Dutch gissen , and probably related to get .