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The Britannica Dictionary guess 5 ENTRIES FOUND:

• guess (verb)
• guess (noun)
• guessing game (noun)
• second–guess (verb)
• leave (verb)

1 guess /ˈgɛs/ verb guesses; guessed; guessing 1 guess /ˈgɛs/ verb guesses; guessed; guessing Britannica Dictionary definition of GUESS 1 a : to form an opinion or give an answer about something when you do not know much or anything about it [+ object]

• Can you guess how many people were there?
• He guessed that it would rain today.
• It was colder and windier than I had guessed it would be.
• She can only guess what he meant.
• I'm guessing that she won't come. [=I don't think she'll come]
• I never would have guessed [=I am very surprised] that you could be so selfish.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples [no object]

• I had to choose one, and I guessed right/wrong.
• If you can't think of an answer, guess.
• “I just heard why he left her.” “Let me guess—another woman.”
• As you might have guessed, her parents are not happy about her decision.
• We can only guess at what really happened.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples ◊ Guess is used in phrases like guess what or guess who as an informal way of indicating that you have surprising news.

• “Guess what!” “What?” “I bought a new car.”
• “Guess who I saw yesterday!” “Who?” “My old boyfriend from high school.”
• Guess where I'm going on my vacation!
• You'll never guess what happened to me today. [=you will be surprised by what happened to me today]

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples b [+ object] : to guess (something) correctly : to make a correct conclusion about (someone or something) by chance

• She guessed my age on her first try.
• It took us a while to guess the answer to the riddle.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples ◊ The phrase you guessed it is used as an informal way of saying that what follows is just what you would expect.

• We had lunch at Smith's Café, which is owned by, you guessed it, John Smith.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples 2 [+ object] chiefly US, informal : to suppose or think (something) — usually used following the pronoun I

• I guess you're right.
• I guess this means that we can't go.
• What saved her, I guess [=I imagine], was her quick wit.
• I guess you could say that it was all his fault.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples ◊ In responding to a question, the phrase I guess (so) is used as an informal way of agreeing or saying “yes” when you are not certain or not very excited or interested.

• “Are you hungry?” “I guess.”
• “This one looks better, doesn't it?” “I guess so.”

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples ◊ The phrase I guess not is used as an informal way of agreeing with a negative statement or of saying “no.”

• “That wasn't a very smart thing to do, was it?” “I guess not.”

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples — see also second-guess

keep (someone) guessing

or chiefly US leave (someone) guessing : to make it impossible for someone to know what will happen next

• The many twists and turns in the plot will keep readers guessing until the last page.
• He likes to leave us guessing about his plans.

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— guesser

noun, plural guessers [count]

• a lucky guesser

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples 2 guess /ˈgɛs/ noun plural guesses 2 guess /ˈgɛs/ noun plural guesses Britannica Dictionary definition of GUESS [count] : an attempt to give an opinion or answer about something when you do not know much about it or are not sure about it

• I'm not sure how old he is, but I'm willing to hazard/venture a guess.
• My guess is that he'll change his story when he realizes how much trouble he's in.
• There might be about 20 people there, but that's just a (rough) guess.
• If you don't know the answer, make a guess. = (US) If you don't know the answer, take a guess. = (chiefly Brit) If you don't know the answer, have a guess.
• “How many people will be there?” “I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine.” [=I don't know any more than you do]
• “I have no idea how many peanuts are in the jar.” “Take a wild guess.” [=a guess based on no knowledge or information]

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples ◊ An educated/informed guess is a guess that is probably close to being correct because it is based on some amount of knowledge.

• Forecasters will be making an educated guess about the demand for electricity this summer.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples

anybody's/anyone's guess

◊ Something that is anybody's/anyone's guess is something that is very uncertain or that no one knows.

• What causes these changes is anybody's guess. [=no one knows what causes these changes]
• It's anyone's guess what his next book will be about.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples ASK THE EDITOR

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