speculate

[spek-yuh-leyt]

See more synonyms for speculate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), spec·u·lat·ed, spec·u·lat·ing.

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

1590–1600; < Latin speculātus, past participle of speculārī to watch over, explore, reconnoiter, derivative of specula watch tower, noun derivative of specere to look, regard; see -ate¹

Related formso·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

Synonyms for speculate

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1. think, reflect, cogitate. 2. conjecture, guess, surmise, suppose, theorize.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for speculating

guess, read, hypothesize, wonder, reflect, contemplate, weigh, ruminate, surmise, conjecture, cerebrate, consider, figure, deliberate, study, dope, muse, excogitate, brainstorm, reason

Examples from the Web for speculating

Contemporary Examples of speculating

When Smith was asked how he could diagnose Obama, he admitted he is not a psychologist and was just speculating.
Republican Thinks Obama’s Mental Illness Caused Border Crisis
Gideon Resnick
July 11, 2014
We tend to daydream all the time, speculating about the future and dwelling on the past.
Peter Matthiessen Was One of the Greatest Writers of a Great Generation
Malcolm Jones
April 7, 2014
But since when has that stopped anyone from speculating about True Detective?
How ‘True Detective’ Will End
Andrew Romano
March 3, 2014
They also try to predict guest behavior, speculating where participants could wander and any potential dangers they may face.
A Most Illegal Adventure with New York City’s Wildest Underground Event Planners
Nina Strochlic
December 16, 2013
So few will risk reputation or promotion by speculating beyond the facts that SPSS will whisper.
Why Money Is the Root of All That’s Wrong With Washington
Lawrence Lessig
October 21, 2013

Historical Examples of speculating

She felt that she had somehow blundered, and her busy mind was speculating as to how.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum
She was speculating as to what might happen with Fyles stationed here in Rocky Springs.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum
His mother simply accused him of not speculating on the political situation.
The Fortune of the Rougons
Emile Zola
He was speculating in his mind as to the risk he was running.
The Night Riders
Ridgwell Cullum
Needless to say Jed Winslow did no speculating concerning his tenant's "past."
Shavings
Joseph C. Lincoln

British Dictionary definitions for speculating

speculate

verb

(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

Word Origin for speculate

C16: from Latin speculārī to spy out, from specula a watchtower, from specere to look at

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for speculating

speculate

1590s, back-formation from speculation. Related: Speculated; speculating.