Estimates: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when you need to give a rough number or range about something without exact data. It's often used in financial, time, or quantity calculations.

• The repair costs were estimated to be around $500.
• He provided an estimate for the time required to complete the project.

Suitable for when you can't be precise but need to give a value close to the actual one. It's often used in mathematics or casual speech where one can give a number that’s not exact but close enough.

• The approximation of pi is 3.14.
• We can give an approximation of the distance to the nearest mile.

Appropriate in situations involving evaluation or analysis of value, quality, or performance. It often implies a more detailed and formal process.

• The teacher's assessment of the student's skills was very thorough.
• A risk assessment was conducted before the project began.

Used when forecasting or making a statement about what will happen in the future, often based on data or trends.

• Weather predictions for the weekend suggest rain.
• He made a prediction about the stock market's performance next year.

Use when you need an educated guess or a rough calculation based on known information. Suitable for financial reports, project timelines, or cost predictions.

• The contractor provided cost estimates for the renovation project
• Her estimates were fairly accurate

Used when giving a value or amount that is nearly correct but not exact. Appropriate for general discussions, informal contexts, or when exact numbers are not required.

• The approximate number of attendees was around 300
• He gave an approximate location of the meeting point

A blend of 'guess' and 'estimate,' this word implies a rough estimate made with little data. Often used informally and may carry a somewhat negative connotation of inaccuracy.

• He gave a guesstimate of the project's duration
• Her guesstimate about the expenses was way off

Ideal for situations requiring precise, exact results, often involving mathematical or scientific methods. Used in contexts like finance, engineering, or research.

• You need to calculate the total cost including taxes
• The scientists calculated the speed of the new particle