speculate
pronunciation
How to pronounce speculate in British English:
UK [ˈspekjuleɪt]
How to pronounce speculate in American English:
US [ˈspekjuleɪt]
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- Verb:
- to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
- talk over conjecturally, or review in an idle or casual way and with an element of doubt or without sufficient reason to reach a conclusion
- reflect deeply on a subject
- invest at a risk
Word Origin
- speculate (v.)
- 1590s, "view mentally, contemplate" (transitive), back-formation from speculation. Also formerly "view as from a watchtower" (1610s). Intransitive sense of "pursue truth by conjecture or thinking" is from 1670s. Meaning "to invest money upon risk for the sake of profit" is from 1785. Related: Speculated; speculating.
Synonym
Example
- 1. Observers speculate that disney may become a major backer .
- 2. Some speculate that it would be used for espionage activity .
- 3. Then investors will speculate that further appreciation is likely .
- 4. One can only speculate on whether ostriches and platypuses have similar dreams , too .
- 5. The latest survey offers a welcome chance to speculate .