What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
guess
Example
I can only guess what the weather will be like tomorrow. [guess: verb]
Example
My guess is that she won't be able to make it to the meeting. [guess: noun]
surmise
Example
From his behavior, I surmised that he was hiding something. [surmised: verb]
Example
Her surmise was that the company was going bankrupt. [surmise: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Guess is more commonly used than surmise in everyday language. Guess is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while surmise is less common and is often used in academic or professional contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between guess and surmise?
Surmise is more formal than guess and is often used in academic or professional contexts. Guess is more casual and can be used in informal conversations.
