surmise

[ verb ser-mahyz; noun ser-mahyz, sur-mahyz ]
See synonyms for: surmisesurmisedsurmising on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),sur·mised, sur·mis·ing.
  1. to think or infer without certain or strong evidence; conjecture; guess.

verb (used without object),sur·mised, sur·mis·ing.
  1. to conjecture or guess.

noun
  1. a matter of conjecture.

  2. an idea or thought of something as being possible or likely.

  1. a conjecture or opinion.

Origin of surmise

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English surmisen, from Anglo-French surmis(e), Middle French “accused,” past participle of surmettre “to accuse,” from Latin supermittere “to throw upon,” from super super- + mittere “to let go, send”

synonym study For surmise

1. See guess.

Other words for surmise

Other words from surmise

  • sur·mis·a·ble, adjective
  • sur·mised·ly [ser-mahyzd-lee, -mahy-zid-], /sərˈmaɪzd li, -ˈmaɪ zɪd-/, adverb
  • sur·mis·er, noun
  • un·sur·mised, adjective
  • un·sur·mis·ing, adjective

Words Nearby surmise

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use surmise in a sentence

  • Twas inevitable that they should pry and surmise––surmising much more than they dared pry.

  • It may be difficult to surmise what has been the fate of these unfortunate men.

    Voyage of H.M.S. Pandora | Edward Edwards
  • He was not to suppose or surmise that it bothered or burdened her to be with him.

    Jane Journeys On | Ruth Comfort Mitchell
  • But excuse us; our business is to state facts and not to wonder or surmise.

    Fair to Look Upon | Mary Belle Freeley
  • Her hand was dabbing furtively at her face for a purpose which Pierre could not surmise.

    Riders of the Silences | John Frederick

British Dictionary definitions for surmise

surmise

verb(sɜːˈmaɪz)
  1. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to infer (something) from incomplete or uncertain evidence

noun(sɜːˈmaɪz, ˈsɜːmaɪz)
  1. an idea inferred from inconclusive evidence

Origin of surmise

1
C15: from Old French, from surmettre to accuse, from Latin supermittere to throw over, from super- + mittere to send

Derived forms of surmise

  • surmisable, adjective
  • surmiser, noun

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