verb
surmise
sur-MYZ
Surmise (verb) means to guess or conclude something without solid proof. Example: “From her tone, I surmised she wasn't happy about the decision.”
verb
1
To guess or conclude something without solid proof.
"From her tone, I surmised she wasn't happy about the decision."
"Police surmised that the fire was started deliberately."
noun
1
A guess or conclusion based on limited evidence.
"It was pure surmise on his part — nobody had confirmed anything."
How to use surmise
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make an educated guess, or the guess itself.
Common mistake
Formal in tone — in everyday speech "guess" or "assume" is far more natural.
When to use it
Fairly formal or literary; used often in writing and reporting rather than casual conversation.
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Word forms
- Plural
- surmises
- Third person singular
- surmises
- Past tense
- surmised
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
From her tone, I _____ she wasn't happy about the decision.
Etymology
From Old French surmettre ("to accuse"), from sur- ("upon") + mettre ("to put") — the meaning softened over time from "accusation" to "guess".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for surmise
See all rhymes for surmise →Frequently asked questions
What does “surmise” mean?
The word “surmise” means to guess or conclude something without solid proof. In plain terms, to make an educated guess, or the guess itself.
How do you pronounce “surmise”?
“Surmise” is pronounced sur-MYZ (/sɚˈmaɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “surmise” in a sentence?
Here is “surmise” used in a sentence: “From her tone, I surmised she wasn't happy about the decision.”
What part of speech is “surmise”?
Depending on how it is used, “surmise” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “surmise” come from?
The word “surmise” comes from Old French. From Old French surmettre ("to accuse"), from sur- ("upon") + mettre ("to put") — the meaning softened over time from "accusation" to "guess".
How many meanings does “surmise” have?
“Surmise” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to guess or conclude something without solid proof.
