noun
Common
guessing
GEH-sihng
Guessing (noun) means the act of making guesses. Example: “The quiz was mostly guessing because none of us had revised.”
noun
1
The act of making guesses.
"The quiz was mostly guessing because none of us had revised."
"Stop the guessing and just check the instructions!"
"After an hour of guessing, they finally looked up the answer."
How to use guessing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe ongoing act of guessing.
Common pairings
guessing game
wild guessing
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Word forms
- Plural
- guessings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The quiz was mostly _____ because none of us had revised.
Etymology
Came from Middle English gessyng or gessynge, equivalent to guess plus -ing.
Related words
Rhymes for guessing
Messing
Lessing
blessing
dressing
pressing
assessing
caressing
processing
expressing
addressing
depressing
witnessing
See all rhymes for 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.
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