theorize

American  

[thee-uh-rahyz, theer-ahyz] / ˈθi əˌraɪz, ˈθɪər aɪz /

especially British, theorise

verb (used without object)

theorizes, present (3rd person singular) theorized, past participle, past theorizing present participle

1. to form a theory or theories.

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verb (used with object)

theorizes, present (3rd person singular) theorized, past participle, past theorizing present participle

1. to form a theory or theories about.

theorize British  

/ ˈθɪəˌraɪz /

verb

1. (intr) to produce or use theories; speculate

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• overtheorization
  noun
• theorization
  noun
• theorizer
  noun
• overtheorize
  verb (used without object)

Inflected Forms

Participles

• theorizing
  present
• theorized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• theorize
  simple
• theorizes
  simple
• have theorized
  perfect
• has theorized
  perfect
• am theorizing
  progressive
• are theorizing
  progressive
• is theorizing
  progressive
• have been theorizing
  perfect progressive
• has been theorizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• theorized
  simple
• had theorized
  perfect
• was theorizing
  progressive
• were theorizing
  progressive
• had been theorizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will theorize
  simple
• will have theorized
  perfect
• will be theorizing
  progressive
• will have been theorizing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of theorize

From the Medieval Latin word theōrizāre, dating back to 1630–40. See theory, -ize

Explanation

When you theorize, you come up with an explanation for how something happens, based on ideas that can be tested. You may theorize that your dog is afraid of loud noises after you see her cower under the bed during fireworks and thunderstorms. When someone theorizes, they're not just making a wild guess. They're forming a theory, or a testable explanation that they can confirm through experimentation. After a scientist theorizes and the theory sticks around and is tested again and again in a rigorous way, it becomes an "established theory," like the theory of gravity or plate tectonics theory. The Greek root theorein means "to consider, speculate, or look at."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

theorize theorizes theorized theorizing

Reappropriation works, the researchers theorize, because it signals confidence and humor on the part of the brand, especially when the insult seems mild or unjustified.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026

She can imagine, she can theorize, she can try to do justice.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025

When faced with a particularly puzzling case and not much evidence to go on, Sherlock Holmes once said, “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.”

From Barron's ● Nov. 13, 2025

Only under a neutral state, above or beyond partisan conflict, could dreamers theorize about constitutions and parliaments representing the interests of the nation.

From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2025

One could theorize forever about what makes the perfect parent.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

That likely leaves Bitcoin at the mercy of the “Tinkerbell Effect,” which theorizes that its value is more tied to the belief of its holders than the mechanics of the market.

From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026

This “digital lock-in” forced more screen time and distraction into the classroom, he theorizes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026

However, Kluh said she theorizes the Aedes aegypti might not have completely gone into hibernation during the winter and were ready to pounce at the first sign of warm temperatures.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2026

In the song directed to Drake's family, Lamar addresses each of Drake's family members including who Lamar theorizes is the Canadian rapper's secret daughter.

From Salon ● May 10, 2024

“In this one, it theorizes that dragons aren’t magical at all but are just normal animals that ancient people thought were magical. And the legends persist to this day.”

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

He theorized that his initial test was flagged because he completed it very quickly.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

Since at least the 1960s, economists have theorized that most people should annuitize a portion of their wealth by handing it to an insurance company in exchange for a lifelong monthly payment.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 26, 2026

Please forgive this exercise in premise-granting, but this is where the theorized plot against Pratt goes from incoherent to illogical.

From Slate ● Jun. 9, 2026

Those traders have theorized that total trading activity may be a factor in deciding the number of tokens received.

From Barron's ● Apr. 22, 2026

He theorized that the organization of the central nervous system and neural networks were involved with and impacted attention.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

What we’ve found is that when prominent media embrace conspiracy theorizing, increased public endorsement of conspiracies will follow.

From Salon ● Jun. 4, 2026

"We don't spend a lot of time talking about AGI," Pineau said, dismissing the theorizing as a distraction.

From Barron's ● May 15, 2026

Here he is as arresting theorizing about the origins of “The Goon Show,” which he traces to the trauma of World War II, as he is contemplating the quality of Liza Minnelli’s eyelashes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026

Spincic also attributes the growth to our cultural climate, theorizing people need community and tension-free places to rally around.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2025

At lunch during the following days, Quentin and I worked on how to build a rocket, sketching out crude drawings and theorizing.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Related Words

• speculate