Speculate
verb
To think about something and make guesses about it without having all the facts.
We can only speculate about the reasons for his sudden resignation.
Often appears as...
- speculate about
- speculate on
verb
To buy goods, property, stocks, etc., hoping to sell them at a higher price and make a profit.
She speculated in property at the right time and made a fortune.
Often appears as...
- speculate in
- speculate on
verb
To form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence.
Scientists can only speculate about the existence of life on Mars.
Often appears as...
- speculate about
- speculate on
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To think about something and make guesses about it without having all the facts.
We can only speculate about the reasons for his sudden resignation.
Often appears as...
- speculate about
- speculate on
verb
To buy goods, property, stocks, etc., hoping to sell them at a higher price and make a profit.
She speculated in property at the right time and made a fortune.
Often appears as...
- speculate in
- speculate on
verb
To form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence.
Scientists can only speculate about the existence of life on Mars.
Often appears as...
- speculate about
- speculate on
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Hypothetical Thought
Use 'speculate' when imagining scenarios without proof or evidence.
Fans love to speculate about the future of their favorite TV shows.
Pro Tip 2/3Avoid as Fact
Speculate does not confirm anything, it expresses uncertainty.
He refused to speculate on the outcome of the negotiations.
Pro Tip 3/3Curiosity Expression
Use when expressing curiosity or pondering about mysterious topics.
We often speculate about the secrets of the universe.
Pro Tip 1/3Hypothetical Thought
Use 'speculate' when imagining scenarios without proof or evidence.
Fans love to speculate about the future of their favorite TV shows.
Pro Tip 2/3Avoid as Fact
Speculate does not confirm anything, it expresses uncertainty.
He refused to speculate on the outcome of the negotiations.
Pro Tip 3/3Curiosity Expression
Use when expressing curiosity or pondering about mysterious topics.
We often speculate about the secrets of the universe.
Pro Tip 1/3Hypothetical Thought
Use 'speculate' when imagining scenarios without proof or evidence.
Fans love to speculate about the future of their favorite TV shows.
Pro Tip 2/3Avoid as Fact
Speculate does not confirm anything, it expresses uncertainty.
He refused to speculate on the outcome of the negotiations.
Pro Tip 3/3Curiosity Expression
Use when expressing curiosity or pondering about mysterious topics.
We often speculate about the secrets of the universe.
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Video examples
How does the Rorschach...
Without its inventor to keep it on track, the test he had methodically gathered so much data to support began to be used in all sorts of speculative ways. Researchers gave the test to Nazi war criminals, hoping to unlock the psychological roots of mass murder. Anthropologists showed the images to remote communities
Video examples
What Does 'Genius' Mean?...
called "thought experiments." He'd just let his mind wander and drift off and speculate about. He was always obsessed, right from his youth-- what if I could travel as fast as the speed of light? What would light look like, next to me? Now, I'm imagining that the ball is traveling in deep space.
Video examples
Earworms: Those songs...
we have to play through until it reaches a natural stopping point, "ella, ella, ella." But this is largely speculation. The basic fact remains we don't know exactly why we're susceptible to earworms. But understanding them better could give us important clues to the workings of the human brain.
Video examples
Why do we feel...
but as a mental condition similar to depression. Psychologists of the time speculated that it represented difficulties letting go of childhood, or even a longing to return to one's fetal state. But over the next few decades, the understanding of nostalgia changed in two important ways.
Video examples
How language shapes the...
they have different vocabularies, and they also have different structures -- very importantly, different structures. That begs the Does the language we speak shape the way we think? Now, this is an ancient question. People have been speculating about this question forever.
Video examples
How does the Nobel Peace...
and his passion for literature. But what about peace? Because Nobel's name was tied to inventions used in the war industry, many have assumed that he created the peace prize out of regret. However, this is all speculation as he never expressed any such sentiments,
Video examples
Are ghost ships real? -...
water in its hold, and lifeboats missing. The discovery of its intact cargo and a captain's log that ended abruptly led to wild rumors and speculation. But the real culprits were two scientific buoyancy and fluid dynamics.
Video examples
Art and architecture...
okay so my artwork is heavily influenced by my background in architecture and you're going to see that in the work that I'm showing you I creates speculative architectural interventions
Video examples
The 2,400-year search...
that everything in the world was made up of tiny particles surrounded by empty space. And he even speculated that they vary in size and shape depending on the substance they compose.
Video examples
Young Penguin Tragically...
rarely witnessed so we can only speculate why it's occurred perhaps it shows the extreme length the pendant will go to in order to defend their territory
Video examples
How does the Rorschach...
Without its inventor to keep it on track, the test he had methodically gathered so much data to support began to be used in all sorts of speculative ways. Researchers gave the test to Nazi war criminals, hoping to unlock the psychological roots of mass murder. Anthropologists showed the images to remote communities
Video examples
What Does 'Genius' Mean?...
called "thought experiments." He'd just let his mind wander and drift off and speculate about. He was always obsessed, right from his youth-- what if I could travel as fast as the speed of light? What would light look like, next to me? Now, I'm imagining that the ball is traveling in deep space.
Video examples
Earworms: Those songs...
we have to play through until it reaches a natural stopping point, "ella, ella, ella." But this is largely speculation. The basic fact remains we don't know exactly why we're susceptible to earworms. But understanding them better could give us important clues to the workings of the human brain.
Video examples
Why do we feel...
but as a mental condition similar to depression. Psychologists of the time speculated that it represented difficulties letting go of childhood, or even a longing to return to one's fetal state. But over the next few decades, the understanding of nostalgia changed in two important ways.
Video examples
How language shapes the...
they have different vocabularies, and they also have different structures -- very importantly, different structures. That begs the Does the language we speak shape the way we think? Now, this is an ancient question. People have been speculating about this question forever.
Video examples
How does the Nobel Peace...
and his passion for literature. But what about peace? Because Nobel's name was tied to inventions used in the war industry, many have assumed that he created the peace prize out of regret. However, this is all speculation as he never expressed any such sentiments,
Video examples
Are ghost ships real? -...
water in its hold, and lifeboats missing. The discovery of its intact cargo and a captain's log that ended abruptly led to wild rumors and speculation. But the real culprits were two scientific buoyancy and fluid dynamics.
Video examples
Art and architecture...
okay so my artwork is heavily influenced by my background in architecture and you're going to see that in the work that I'm showing you I creates speculative architectural interventions
Video examples
The 2,400-year search...
that everything in the world was made up of tiny particles surrounded by empty space. And he even speculated that they vary in size and shape depending on the substance they compose.
Video examples
Young Penguin Tragically...
rarely witnessed so we can only speculate why it's occurred perhaps it shows the extreme length the pendant will go to in order to defend their territory
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
John M. Grunsfeld
American Astronaut
When I grew up as a kid, we didn't know there were any other planets outside of our own solar system. It was widely speculated that planet formation was an incredibly rare event and that it's possible that other planets just don't exist in our galaxy, and it's just this special situation where we happen to have planets around our sun.
Quote examples
Karan Singh Grover
Indian Actor
If I had my way, I wouldn't be sharing my personal life online. I'm a private person. At home, I don't wander around shirtless, flexing my muscles. I roam around unshaven, with my hair disheveled. Unfortunately, people perceive you differently. It's okay; they're free to speculate.
Quote examples
Robert Kennedy
American Politician
The ultimate relationship between justice and law will be an eternal subject for speculation and analysis. But it may be said that in a democratic society, law is the form which free men give to justice.
Quote examples
Jeb Bush
American Politician
It's a complex relationship when your dad happened to be president and you are president and then you have all the amateur psychology that goes on when people try to speculate about motivations.
Quote examples
Ken Salazar
American Politician
I don't think anyone can speculate what will happen with respect to oil prices and gas prices because they are set on the global economy.
Quote examples
James Wan
Australian Producer
The great thing about the 'Fast and Furious' world is everything is up for speculation. Yes, anything is a possibility.
Quote examples
Oneohtrix Point Never
American Musician
Science fiction to me is the ultimate art form, because it speculates on bodies and worlds that don't exist.
Quote examples
Jeff Kober
American Actor
The opposite of speculation is to be present to the world simply as it is.
Quote examples
Karan Patel
Indian Actor
My life is an open book. You're welcome to speculate.
Quote examples
Nargis Fakhri
American Actress
I'm tired of the speculation about my personal life.
Quote examples
John M. Grunsfeld
American Astronaut
When I grew up as a kid, we didn't know there were any other planets outside of our own solar system. It was widely speculated that planet formation was an incredibly rare event and that it's possible that other planets just don't exist in our galaxy, and it's just this special situation where we happen to have planets around our sun.
Quote examples
Karan Singh Grover
Indian Actor
If I had my way, I wouldn't be sharing my personal life online. I'm a private person. At home, I don't wander around shirtless, flexing my muscles. I roam around unshaven, with my hair disheveled. Unfortunately, people perceive you differently. It's okay; they're free to speculate.
Quote examples
Robert Kennedy
American Politician
The ultimate relationship between justice and law will be an eternal subject for speculation and analysis. But it may be said that in a democratic society, law is the form which free men give to justice.
Quote examples
Jeb Bush
American Politician
It's a complex relationship when your dad happened to be president and you are president and then you have all the amateur psychology that goes on when people try to speculate about motivations.
Quote examples
Ken Salazar
American Politician
I don't think anyone can speculate what will happen with respect to oil prices and gas prices because they are set on the global economy.
Quote examples
James Wan
Australian Producer
The great thing about the 'Fast and Furious' world is everything is up for speculation. Yes, anything is a possibility.
Quote examples
Oneohtrix Point Never
American Musician
Science fiction to me is the ultimate art form, because it speculates on bodies and worlds that don't exist.
Quote examples
Jeff Kober
American Actor
The opposite of speculation is to be present to the world simply as it is.
Quote examples
Karan Patel
Indian Actor
My life is an open book. You're welcome to speculate.
Quote examples
Nargis Fakhri
American Actress
I'm tired of the speculation about my personal life.
Example 1 of 10
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