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Guesstimating: meaning, definitions and examples

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guesstimating

 

[ ˈɡɛs.tɪ.meɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

estimating an answer

Guesstimating is the act of making an educated guess or approximation based on available information, rather than relying on precise calculations or data. It is often used in situations where exact figures are unavailable and a rough estimate is sufficient.

Synonyms

approximate, estimate, guess, reckon

Examples of usage

  • We started guesstimating the total cost of the project.
  • The teacher had to guesstimate the number of students attending the event.
  • When it comes to time, I tend to start guesstimating how long things will take.

Translations

Translations of the word "guesstimating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 estimativa aproximada

🇮🇳 अनुमानित करना

🇩🇪 Schätzung

🇮🇩 perkirakan

🇺🇦 приблизне оцінювання

🇵🇱 szacowanie

🇯🇵 推測する

🇫🇷 estimation approximative

🇪🇸 estimación

🇹🇷 tahmin etme

🇰🇷 추정

🇸🇦 تقدير تقريبي

🇨🇿 přibližné odhady

🇸🇰 približné odhady

🇨🇳 估算

🇸🇮 približna ocena

🇮🇸 áætlun

🇰🇿 жорамал жасау

🇬🇪 შეფასება

🇦🇿 təxmin etmə

🇲🇽 estimación

Etymology

The term 'guesstimating' is a blend of the words 'guess' and 'estimate.' It first gained popularity in the 1950s, particularly in the United States, as a colloquial expression to describe the process of deriving an estimate through reasoning or educated speculation rather than through exact measurements or calculations. The word 'guess' itself has roots in Middle English, derived from 'gessen,' which means to form an opinion or conjecture, while 'estimate' comes from the Latin word 'aestimare,' meaning to value or appraise. Over the decades, guesstimating has been widely adopted in various fields, including business, science, and education, to capture the idea of making informed approximations in the face of uncertainty.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #42,951, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.