speculate
verb (used without object)
to engage in thought or reflection; meditate (often followed by on, upon, or a clause).
was speculating
-
past progressiveof speculate.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Much of the pre-show chatter was speculating if Lamar would pop out during Carti’s set.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2025
The market was speculating on what China could do next to revive the recovery but was disappointed by a lack of concrete measures from a cabinet meeting on Friday.
From Reuters ● Jun. 20, 2023
“Exactly the timetable we don’t know, but it’s good to hear that it wasn’t what everybody was speculating that it was.”
From Washington Post ● Sep. 8, 2016
The pilot was speculating that the Socata pilot was suffering from hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, but Schlachter said the Air Force doesn’t know for certain that was the case.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 6, 2014
On the advice of his lawyer, the senator’s aide wasn’t talking anymore, but everyone was speculating that he had always intended for Diana to die.
From "Time Bomb" by Joelle Charbonneau
