speculate
/ˈspɛk.jəˌleɪt/ verb C1- To make an inference based on inconclusive evidence; to surmise or conjecture.
- To make a risky trade in the hope of making a profit; to venture or gamble.
- To anticipate which branch of code will be chosen and execute it in advance.
He/she/it speculates · Past speculated · Past participle speculated · -ing form speculating
Verb forms
- Base form
- speculate
- He/she/it
- speculates
- Past
- speculated
- Past participle
- speculated
- -ing form
- speculating
From the library
He would always come back to his lost treaty, wondering, guessing, speculating, as to what Holmes was doing, what steps Lord Holdhurst was taking, what news we should have in the morning.
What is the use of our speculating in this way when the original plans were actually found on West?”
During the war with Spain he was employed in the commissariat of the French army, and made a fortune; then with that money he speculated in the funds, and trebled or quadrupled his capital; and, having first married his banker’s daughter, who left him a widower, he has married a second time, a widow, a Madame de Nargonne, daughter of M.
“Why, upon my soul, my dear fellow, it strikes me that our elegant and attentive neighbor must either be some successful stock-jobber who has speculated in the fall of the Spanish funds, or some prince travelling incog.”
Learn speculate in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.