speculate
to engage in thought or reflection; meditate (often followed by on, upon, or a clause).
to indulge in conjectural thought.
to engage in any business transaction involving considerable risk or the chance of large gains, especially to buy and sell commodities, stocks, etc., in the expectation of a quick or very large profit.
Origin of speculate
1Other words for speculate
Other words from speculate
- o·ver·spec·u·late, verb (used without object), o·ver·spec·u·lat·ed, o·ver·spec·u·lat·ing.
- pre·spec·u·late, verb (used without object), pre·spec·u·lat·ed, pre·spec·u·lat·ing.
- un·spec·u·lat·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use speculate in a sentence
The resulting increased radiation could have led to the demise of many shallow-water organisms, the team speculated.
50 years ago, scientists named Earth’s magnetic field as a suspect in extinctions | Jonathan Lambert | November 19, 2020 | Science NewsThey’d continue to speculate together about their significance and connections to archetypes.
The Synchronicity of Wolfgang Pauli and Carl Jung - Issue 93: Forerunners | Paul Halpern | November 18, 2020 | NautilusSo, like NBCUniversal’s deal with Roku to finally distribute Peacock on the latter’s CTV platform, we’re left to largely speculate over who had to make what compromises to make WarnerMedia’s service available on Amazon’s platform.
‘We get nothing’: Media companies want more detailed audience, revenue breakdowns from free, ad-supported streaming TV platforms | Tim Peterson | November 18, 2020 | DigidayFadi Quran, a campaign director at the left-leaning group Avaaz, which researches misinformation, speculated Facebook’s ad hoc efforts to step up punishments for repeat offenders were starting to have a broader impact.
‘Stop the Steal’ supporters, restrained by Facebook, turn to Parler to peddle false election claims | Elizabeth Dwoskin, Rachel Lerman | November 10, 2020 | Washington PostAs for why the Justice Department didn’t name the individual, the source speculated it was because the person could be at risk of violent retaliation from criminals tied to the Silk Road.
The CID speculated that the woman was confirming who lived there before planting a homemade nail bomb.
Abu Dhabi Treats U.S. Teacher’s Murder as Terrorist Attack | Chris Allbritton | December 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSome have speculated that cessation of CPR decreases pressure in the chest cavity, allowing blood to return to the heart.
Real Life Lazarus: When Patients Rise From the Dead | Sandeep Jauhar | August 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis last group, Beck speculated, was surely in New York City.
Long speculated to be a UFO research center, Burlington has been the subject of rampant conspiracies for decades.
They speculated in their articles, dragged everybody through the mud.
Aristide looked mournfully over the rain-swept common through the leaded panes, and speculated on the enigma of woman.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. LockeGeorges d'Estourny speculated on the Bourse with money obtained from "kept" women who trusted in him.
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z | Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois ChristopheThe Thirty-six watched and waited, and speculated upon the threatened disaster.
Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail | Arthur R. ThompsonSo, as he satisfied the cravings of man within, he speculated upon the possibility of danger for man without.
Menotah | Ernest G. HenhamThey speculated as to the origins of political and social institutions and the laws of human progress.
The Political History of England - Vol. X. | William Hunt
British Dictionary definitions for speculate
/ (ˈspɛkjʊˌleɪt) /
(when tr, takes a clause as object) to conjecture without knowing the complete facts
(intr) to buy or sell securities, property, etc, in the hope of deriving capital gains
(intr) to risk loss for the possibility of considerable gain
(intr) NZ rugby to make an emergency forward kick of the ball without taking any particular aim
Origin of speculate
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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