What is the difference between estimate and guess?
estimate | guess |
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
To reach a partly (or totally) unqualified conclusion.
To solve by a correct conjecture; to conjecture rightly.
(chiefly, US) to suppose (introducing a proposition of uncertain plausibility).
* Shakespeare
* Alexander Pope
*
(obsolete) To hit upon or reproduce by memory.
* Shakespeare
A prediction about the outcome of something, typically made without factual evidence or support.
*
Guess is a synonym of estimate.
As nouns the difference between estimate and guess
is that estimate is a rough calculation or guess while guess is a prediction about the outcome of something, typically made without factual evidence or support.As verbs the difference between estimate and guess
is that estimate is to calculate roughly, often from imperfect data while guess is to reach a partly (or totally) unqualified conclusion.estimate
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.
Synonyms
* appraise * guessDerived terms
* estimable * underestimate * overestimateExternal links
* * *guess
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) . More at (l).Verb
- He who guesses the riddle shall have the ring.
- That album is quite hard to find, but I guess you could try ordering it online.
- Not all together; better far, I guess , / That we do make our entrance several ways.
- But in known images of life I guess / The labour greater.
- Tell me their words, as near as thou canst guess them.
Synonyms
* hypothesize * take a stab * speculateDerived terms
* foreguess * guess what * guessable * guesser * guessing game * guesstimate * guesswork * keep someone guessing * no prize for guessing * out-guess * second-guess * you'll never guessEtymology 2
From (etyl) gesse. Cognate with (etyl) .Noun
(es)- If you don't know the answer, take a guess .