Decide vs Estimate - What's the difference?
decide | estimate | Related terms |
To resolve (a contest, problem, dispute, etc.); to choose, determine, or settle.
* Shakespeare
To make a judgment, especially after deliberation.
* Bible, 1 Kings xx. 40
To cause someone to come to a decision.
* 1920 , , "The Adventure of the Three Gables" (Norton edition, 2005, p. 1537),
(obsolete) To cut off; to separate.
* Fuller
A rough calculation or guess.
(construction and business) A document (or verbal notification) specifying how much a job will probably cost.
* {{quote-book, year=1928, author=Lawrence R. Bourne
, title=Well Tackled!
, chapter=3 To calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.
* {{quote-book, year=1965, author=Ian Hacking, title=Logic of Statistical Inference, passage=I estimate that I need 400 board feet of lumber to complete a job, and then order 350 because I do not want a surplus, or perhaps order 450 because I do not want to make any subsequent orders.
* '>citation
To judge and form an opinion of the value of, from imperfect data.
* John Locke
* J. C. Shairp
Decide is a related term of estimate.
As verbs the difference between decide and estimate
is that decide is while estimate is to calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.As a noun estimate is
a rough calculation or guess.decide
English
Verb
(decid)- The election will be decided on foreign policies.
- We must decide our next move.
- Her last-minute goal decided the game.
- The quarrel toucheth none but us alone; / Betwixt ourselves let us decide it then.
- You must decide between good and evil.
- I have decided that it is healthier to walk to work.
- So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.
- It decides me to look into the matter, for if it is worth anyone's while to take so much trouble, there must be something in it.
- Our seat denies us traffic here; / The sea, too near, decides us from the rest.
Usage notes
* This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . SeeSynonyms
* make up one's mind * choose * determine * pickestimate
English
Alternative forms
* (archaic)Noun
(en noun)citation, passage=“They know our boats will stand up to their work,” said Willison, “and that counts for a good deal. A low estimate from us doesn't mean scamped work, but just that we want to keep the yard busy over a slack time.”}}
Synonyms
* estimation * appraisalDerived terms
* ballpark estimateVerb
citation
- It is by the weight of silver, and not the name of the piece, that men estimate commodities and exchange them.
- It is always very difficult to estimate the age in which you are living.