guessing
8 synonyms for guessing, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The act of making guesses.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use guessing
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
guessing game
wild guessing
Etymology
Came from Middle English gessyng or gessynge, equivalent to guess plus -ing.
Full origin of guessing →Frequently asked questions
What does “guessing” mean?
The word “guessing” means the act of making guesses. In plain terms, the ongoing act of guessing.
How do you pronounce “guessing”?
“Guessing” is pronounced GEH-sihng (/ˈɡɛsɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “guessing” in a sentence?
Here is “guessing” used in a sentence: “After an hour of guessing, they finally looked up the answer.”
What part of speech is “guessing”?
“Guessing” is a noun.
Is “guessing” a common word?
“Guessing” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between guessing and estimating?
Guessing means forming an answer without enough information to be sure, often relying on chance. Estimating uses available facts or reasoning to reach an approximate but informed figure, so estimating is more grounded than pure guessing.
When should you use 'guessing' instead of 'assuming'?
Use guessing when you form an answer with little or no evidence and accept that it may be wrong. Assuming means taking something as true without proof but then treating it as a working fact, so it implies more confidence than guessing.
