Speculate

Quick meaning: Speculate is a verb meaning (intransitive) To make an inference based on inconclusive evidence; to surmise or conjecture.

Meaning

(intransitive) To make an inference based on inconclusive evidence; to surmise or conjecture.

More Meanings

1. (intransitive, business, finance) To make a risky trade in the hope of making a profit; to venture or gamble.
2. (intransitive, programming) To anticipate which branch of code will be chosen and execute it in advance.
3. (obsolete, intransitive) To think, meditate or reflect on a subject; to consider, to deliberate or cogitate.

Example Sentences

We can speculate that in many instances the sharks are not feeding on their victims, but only in a few cases can we guess what they are doing.

It is remarkable that persons who speculate the most boldly often conform with the most perfect quietude to the external regulations of society.

Some preliminary legal arrangements were made, but the scheme proceeded no further, as the various local authorities concerned were unwilling to speculate public funds on what was, even at that date, a will o' the wisp.

It is tempting to speculate about the incentives or compulsions that might explain why anyone would take to the skies in [the] basket [of a balloon]: perhaps out of a desire to escape the gravity of this world or to get a preview of the next; […].

Word Forms

• speculates
• speculating
• speculated

Synonyms for speculate

Depending on context, synonyms include ruminate, conjecture, contemplate, mull, reflect, job.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include contemplate, mull, ponder, meditate, hypothesize, conjecture.

Related Dictionary Tools