speculate

verb

spec·u·late ˈspe-kyə-ˌlāt

speculated; speculating

Synonyms of speculate next

intransitive verb

: to meditate on or ponder a subject : reflect

: to review something idly or casually and often inconclusively

: to assume a business risk in hope of gain

especially : to make a relatively risky investment in something (such as stocks or real estate) in the hope of making a large short-term profit from market fluctuations

transitive verb

: to take to be true on the basis of insufficient evidence : theorize

: to be curious or doubtful about : wonder

speculates whether it will rain all vacation

Did you know?

It might be said that what separates our species from others is our tendency “to meditate on or ponder a subject.” That's the original 16th century meaning of speculate. It's a use not too distant from today's most common sense, which also involves the mind and thinking: when someone speculates about something, they think and make guesses about it, often forming ideas or theories when there are many things not known about the thing. But the origins of speculate lie not in thinking but in looking—the word comes from Latin specere, meaning “to look,” or “to look at.” We don't have to look far to find other specere descendants, and we'll point them out here with some italics: a cursory inspection reveals spectacle, spectrum, specimen, and perspective. Less conspicuous are despise, prospect, and species.

Choose the Right Synonym for speculate

think, cogitate, reflect, reason, speculate, deliberate mean to use one's powers of conception, judgment, or inference.

think is general and may apply to any mental activity, but used alone often suggests attainment of clear ideas or conclusions.

teaches students how to think

cogitate implies deep or intent thinking.

cogitated on the mysteries of nature

reflect suggests unhurried consideration of something recalled to the mind.

reflecting on fifty years of married life

reason stresses consecutive logical thinking.

able to reason brilliantly in debate

speculate implies reasoning about things theoretical or problematic.

speculated on the fate of the lost explorers

deliberate suggests slow or careful reasoning before forming an opinion or reaching a conclusion or decision.

the jury deliberated for five hours

Examples of speculate in a Sentence

She could only speculate about her friend's motives. He speculated as to whether she would come. We don't know what happened—we can only speculate. speculating on the stock market

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Fans began to speculate that something was amiss when Kravitz was spotted at several events without her engagement ring. —

Toria Sheffield, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024 Others likened it to temporary tattoos, speculating that moisture caused the letters to transfer from the plastic to the bread. —

Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024 In the same period, options on bitcoin ETFs began trading, ushering in a new way to trade and speculate on the price of bitcoin. —

Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 29 Nov. 2024 Fans began speculating in the past week after paparazzi photos of Johnson and the others on set continually leaked — including one showing Johnson covered in Maui’s signature tattoos and sporting a shoulder-to-waist ratio that seemed extremely unattainable even for the former professional wrestler. —

Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for speculate

Word History

Etymology

Latin speculatus, past participle of speculari to spy out, examine, from specula lookout post, from specere to look, look at — more at spy

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of speculate was in 1599

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Speculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speculate. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

speculate

verb

spec·u·late ˈspek-yə-ˌlāt

speculated; speculating

: to think or wonder about a subject

speculating about the future

: to engage in a business deal in which much profit may be made although at a big risk

speculator

-ˌlāt-ər

noun

Legal Definition

speculate

verb

spec·u·late ˈspe-kyə-ˌlāt

speculated; speculating

intransitive verb

: to theorize on the basis of insufficient evidence

Note: A jury is not permitted to speculate on a matter about which insufficient evidence has been presented in reaching its verdict.

: to assume a business risk in hope of gain

especially : to buy or sell in expectation of profiting from market fluctuations

transitive verb

: to take to be true on the basis of insufficient evidence

speculator

-ˌlā-tər

noun

Last Updated: 7 Dec 2024 - Updated example sentences

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speculate

verb

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Synonyms

Examples of speculate in a Sentence

Word History

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Dictionary Entries Near speculate

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Kids Definition

Legal Definition