Theorize: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when creating a broad, general idea or explanation based on various observations and existing knowledge. Often used in academic or scientific settings.

• She loves to theorize about the origins of the universe
• The scientists theorize that black holes are formed by collapsing stars

Best suited for informal discussions where guessing or supposing about possibilities is involved, often without sufficient evidence. Can sometimes have a negative connotation if used to imply making unsupported or lazy guesses.

• People like to speculate about celebrity relationships
• The investors speculated on the stock market without much information

Appropriate in scientific and research contexts when proposing a specific, testable idea or explanation that has yet to be proven or disproven.

• The researchers hypothesize that the new drug will reduce symptoms of the disease
• He hypothesized that the drop in temperature was due to volcanic activity

Used in formal, often academic or scientific discussions to assert or assume the existence or truth of something as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief.

• Scientists postulate that dark matter makes up most of the universe
• The mathematician postulated the existence of a new number system