guess

n.

guess implies the forming of a judgment or estimate (often a correct one) without sufficient knowledge for certainty he guessed the number of beans in the jar; to conjecture is to infer or predict from incomplete or uncertain evidence I cannot conjecture what his plans are; surmise implies a conjecturing through mere intuition or imagination she surmised the truth

guess

v.

1. To attempt an answer on inadequate evidence

   conjecture, presume, infer, suspect, speculate, imagine, surmise, theorize, opine, hypothesize, predicate, hazard a supposition or conjecture, suggest, figure, incline to a view, divine, reckon, calculate.

2. To make a choice, almost at hazard

   chance, take a leap in the dark, light on, venture, suppose, presume, imagine, think likely, jump at a conclusion, guess maybe*, make a stab at*, lump it*, have a shot at*, hazard a guess*.

3. To choose rightly on little or no evidence

   pick, select, happen upon; see choose 1.