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Ponder vs Guess - What's the difference?

ponder | guess | Related terms |

In obsolete terms the difference between ponder and guess

is that ponder is to weigh while guess is to hit upon or reproduce by memory.

As verbs the difference between ponder and guess

is that ponder is to wonder, to think of deeply while guess is to reach a partly (or totally) unqualified conclusion.

As a noun guess is

a prediction about the outcome of something, typically made without factual evidence or support.

ponder

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To wonder, to think of deeply.
  • To consider (something) carefully and thoroughly; to chew over, to mull over.
  • I have spent days pondering the meaning of life.
  • * Bible, Proverbs iv. 26
  • Ponder the path of thy feet.
  • (obsolete) To weigh.
  • Synonyms

    * chew over * mull over * See also

    guess

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) . More at (l).

    Verb

  • To reach a partly (or totally) unqualified conclusion.
  • To solve by a correct conjecture; to conjecture rightly.
  • He who guesses the riddle shall have the ring.
  • (chiefly, US) to suppose (introducing a proposition of uncertain plausibility).
  • That album is quite hard to find, but I guess you could try ordering it online.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Not all together; better far, I guess , / That we do make our entrance several ways.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • But in known images of life I guess / The labour greater.
  • *
  • (obsolete) To hit upon or reproduce by memory.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Tell me their words, as near as thou canst guess them.
    Synonyms
    * hypothesize * take a stab * speculate
    Derived terms
    * foreguess * guess what * guessable * guesser * guessing game * guesstimate * guesswork * keep someone guessing * no prize for guessing * out-guess * second-guess * you'll never guess

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) gesse. Cognate with (etyl) .

    Noun

    (es)
  • A prediction about the outcome of something, typically made without factual evidence or support.
  • If you don't know the answer, take a guess .
  • *
  • Synonyms
    * estimate * hypothesis * prediction
    Derived terms
    * another-guess * anyone's guess * by guess or by gosh * educated guess * guesswork * guesstimate * otherguess * take a guess * your guess is as good as mine