surmise

USAGE SUMMARY

'surmise' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to express an opinion or guess based on incomplete or unreliable information. Example sentence: "I surmised that he was not telling me the truth, based on his shifty expression."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Clearly Curtis had had enough of Tate Britain: one might surmise that she found the politics at the Tate to be intractable: after all she had the temerity to be not only a woman, but a Scot.

The Guardian - Arts

We can only surmise the PR offensive has come ahead of the screening in Australia of the HBO documentary Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, which alleges abuses and corruption in the church.

The Guardian

Echoes of Tiananmen The main question burning in the minds of most Hong Kongers is how this will all end – and almost everyone involved can surmise a worst-case scenario.

The Guardian

Throughout the novel the certainty of the land, the "busy, kindly, scented universe of crops and the unerring traces of its calendar", is set against the human urge to shape the world into stories, to guess and theorise and surmise.

The Guardian - Books

It did not require too great an intellect to surmise this selection nor the reason why they wished to put him under the particular scrutiny of batting against his nemesis Australians rather than the cosiness of his England chums.

The Guardian - Sport

I would surmise from this that he is perhaps a leading intellectual but also something of a status-obsessed boob.

The Guardian

UKRAINE, it is safe to surmise, is not top of many tourists' must-visit destinations at the moment.

The Economist

Pundits surmise that getting such a complex device to work properly has been one of the reasons why Sirius had to delay its launch.

The Economist

The impenetrability of Itera's finances and ownership has led some cynics to surmise that its beneficial owners may be connected in some way to Gazprom's top management.Although Gazprom insists that Itera earns every penny through its expertise in gas brokerage, many aspects of the two firms' relationship defy easy explanation.

The Economist

They surmise that inflation in services is being underestimated, causing real growth to be overstated.

The Economist

The odd pangs and pains in my own body I now surmise to be Death knocking, or leaving a calling card, with a promise to come back later.Is this morbid?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surmise" when you want to express an opinion or belief based on incomplete or suggestive evidence. It implies a degree of uncertainty and is suitable for situations where you are making an educated guess.

Common error

Avoid using "surmise" when you have concrete evidence or certain knowledge. "Surmise" indicates a lack of definitive proof, so it's not appropriate when you're stating a fact.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "surmise" is as a verb, indicating the act of forming a conjecture or making an educated guess. Ludwig shows examples where it introduces a degree of uncertainty or speculation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "surmise" is a versatile verb used to express a degree of conjecture or assumption based on incomplete information. Ludwig AI indicates that "surmise" is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in formal writing contexts like news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. While similar to "guess" or "assume", "surmise" often carries a more thoughtful or reasoned inference. Remember to use it when you're making an educated guess, and avoid it when stating a definitive fact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conjecture

Suggests forming an opinion or supposition about something on the basis of incomplete information, almost synonymous with "surmise" but perhaps sounding slightly more formal or literary.

speculate

Emphasizes forming a theory or conjecture without firm evidence, closely related to "surmise" but potentially implying a more exploratory or imaginative approach.

assume

Suggests taking something for granted without proof, overlapping with "surmise" but potentially implying a stronger degree of belief or acceptance.

infer

Suggests drawing a conclusion from indirect evidence or reasoning, similar to "surmise" but often implying a more subtle or nuanced understanding.

hypothesize

Suggests proposing an explanation as a basis for further investigation, often used in scientific or academic contexts and more formal than "surmise".

presume

Implies supposing something to be true based on probability or likelihood, similar to "assume" but often carrying a stronger sense of expectation or entitlement.

deduce

Involves drawing a logical conclusion from evidence or reasoning, often implying a more structured or formal process than "surmise".

posit

Implies putting forward an idea or argument as a starting point, more formal than "surmise" and often used in philosophical or academic discussions.

conclude

Implies reaching a decision or judgment based on available information, suggesting a higher degree of certainty than "surmise".

guess

Indicates making a judgment or estimation without sufficient information, less formal than "surmise" and often implying a lower level of confidence.

FAQs

How can I use "surmise" in a sentence?

You can use "surmise" to indicate a guess or inference based on limited evidence. For example, "I "surmise" that he's not telling the truth because he avoids eye contact."

What are some alternatives to the word "surmise"?

Alternatives to "surmise" include "infer", "speculate", "guess", "assume", and "conjecture". The best choice depends on the context and the degree of certainty you want to convey.

Is it more formal to use "surmise" or "guess"?

"Surmise" is generally considered more formal than "guess". While both words indicate a lack of certainty, "surmise" often suggests a more thoughtful or reasoned inference, while "guess" can imply a less informed or more casual judgment.

What's the difference between "surmise" and "assume"?

"Surmise" implies forming an opinion or making a judgment based on incomplete information. "Assume", on the other hand, means taking something for granted without proof. You might "surmise" someone is late because of traffic, but you might "assume" they know the way without asking.