ENGLISH
REFERENCE

guessing

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈɡɛsɪŋ// UK //ɡˈɛsɪŋ// guess·ing

n. the act of trying to give an answer when you are not sure if you are right. It is what you do when you do not have all the facts.

n. the process of forming an opinion or giving an answer without sufficient evidence or certainty.


SIMPLE

My answer was just a lucky guessing.

CONTEXTUAL

After several minutes of wild guessing, the students finally realized they were looking at the wrong map.

COMPLEX

The detective admitted that his initial theory was based on educated guessing rather than concrete forensic evidence, though it eventually led him to the correct suspect.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English gessyng, gessynge, equivalent to guess + -ing.

Etymology 2

From Middle English gessyng, equivalent to guess + -ing.

Usage

Often used as a gerund; when used as a noun, it frequently appears in the phrase 'educated guessing' or 'wild guessing'.

Idioms1 entry

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