English Reference

Word

estimate

Phoneticses·ti·mate, stress on the first syllable

/ˈɛstəˌmeɪt/

Definitions

01a rough calculation

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun General-service

n. a guess or calculation of the cost, size, or value of something based on the information you have.

n. an approximate calculation or judgement of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something.

“The builder gave us a rough estimate of how much the new roof would cost.”

“According to the latest government estimate, the project will require an additional three years of funding to reach completion.”

02a formal price quote

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Business General-service

n. a written document from a business saying how much they will charge for a job.

n. a formal statement of the likely cost of a specific job or service, often provided by a contractor.

“We asked three different garages for an estimate before deciding where to fix the car.”

“The contractor provided a detailed estimate that itemised the costs for both raw materials and skilled labour.”

03to calculate roughly

B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic · General-service

v. to guess the cost, size, or value of something using the information you have.

v. to roughly calculate or judge the value, number, quantity, or extent of something. Transitive — usually takes a direct object or a 'that' clause.

“Experts estimate that the painting is worth over one million dollars.”

“Economists estimate that the new trade policy will increase the national growth rate by at least two percent over the next decade.”

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “estimate” in context.

Verb

01. give estimate

“The contractor will give an estimate for the kitchen renovation tomorrow.”

verb + noun

02. produce estimate

“The software can produce an estimate of the project costs in seconds.”

verb + noun

03. provide estimate

“We asked several companies to provide an estimate for the repairs.”

verb + noun

Adjective

04. accurate estimate

“It is difficult to get an accurate estimate of the total number of protesters.”

adj + noun

Noun

05. estimate indicate

“Current estimates indicate that the population will double by 2050.”

noun + verb

06. estimate suggest

“Early estimates suggest that the company has lost millions this quarter.”

noun + verb

07. estimate vary

“Estimates vary widely depending on which source you consult.”

noun + verb

08. parameter estimate

“The researcher calculated the parameter estimate to refine the statistical model.”

noun + noun

09. estimates suggest

10. estimates vary

11. affect estimate

12. estimate effect

Real-World Examples

“However, the middle estimate of how much the policy would cost overall is £1.1bn.”
BBC News 13 Aug 2026
“The government estimates these new sites could eventually house about 3,750 people.”
The Guardian 13 Aug 2026
“It's tricky to quantify and varies by location - estimates suggest it could be anything from hundreds of pounds to £10,000 on average extra , external a year.”
BBC News 4 Aug 2026
“In Sir Dieter's estimate, the UK is moving towards something closer to 120GW.”
BBC News 15 Apr 2026

Etymology

From Middle English estimat, borrowed from Latin aestimātus (“valuing, estimate”, only used in the ablative singular: "aestimātū..." (in valuing...)), from aestimō + -tus (“action noun-forming suffix”).

Borrowed from Latin aestimātus, perfect passive participle of aestimō (“to estimate”) (see -ate), older form aestumō (“to value, rate, esteem”); from Old Latin *ais-temos (“one who cuts copper”), meaning one in the Roman Republic who mints money. Compare Middle English estymatt (“reputed”) / estimat. See also the doublet esteem, as well as aim.

From Latin aestimātus (“estimated”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and Etymology 2 for more. Originally used as the past participle of estimate; compare generate or communicate.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Related words

Idioms

Domains

BusinessMathematics

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/estimate

English Reference