speculate

verb
UK: /ˈspekjuleɪt/
US: /ˈspekjəleɪt/

  1. To guess possible answers to a question when you do not have enough information.

    1. We can only speculate about his motives.
    2. Analysts speculate that the company's profits will increase next quarter.

  2. To buy or invest in something, hoping to make a large profit but running the risk of a big loss.

    1. He likes to speculate on the stock market.
    2. The company decided to speculate in foreign currency, despite the risks.

Synonyms

guess gamble conjecture wager surmise venture theorize
speculate noun

  1. Ideas or guesses about something that is not known.

    1. There has been a lot of speculation about his future.
    2. The recent speculation regarding a merger has caused uncertainty among employees.
speculate adjective

  1. Involving a high risk of loss, but also the possibility of considerable gains.

    1. That was a speculate investment, I don't think it worth it.
    2. Speculate ventures can lead to rapid growth, but they require careful planning and risk assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "speculate" in English means: To guess possible answers to a question when you do not have enough information., To buy or invest in something, hoping to make a large profit but running the risk of a big loss..

The phonetic transcription of "speculate" is /ˈspekjuleɪt/ in British English and /ˈspekjəleɪt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "speculate": guess, gamble, conjecture, wager, surmise, venture, theorize.

Example usage of "speculate": "We can only speculate about his motives.". More examples on the page.