guestimating
Ballparking a figure
Guestimating is making a rough estimate based partly on guesswork—a blend of "guess" and "estimate." The word acknowledges that your figure isn't precise but isn't purely random either: I'm just guestimating, but I'd say about three hundred people showed up.
Also spelled guesstimating.
Sports venue or estimate
- order of magnitudeApproximate size class
- roundingAdjusting to simpler values
- back-of-envelopeInformal preliminary calculation
- spitballingOffering untested ideas freely
eyeballing · rough calculation · imprecise · inexact · approximate · close enough · rule of thumb · within range
Unproven inner sense
- gut feelingInstinctive sense about something
- instinctInnate behavioral tendency
- intuitionInstinctive immediate understanding
- shot in the darkAttempt lacking any basis
stab · inference · surmise · sense · feeling · off the cuff · snap judgment · gut check
Unproven theorizing or risky investment
- conjectureGuess from limited facts
- assumptionUnverified belief accepted as true
- suppositionBelief without proof
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
iffy · hedging · margin of error · fuzzy · vague · unclear · imprecision · doubt
Something that extends outward
- predictionForecast of coming events
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
- extrapolationExtending data beyond bounds
- prognosisPredicted disease course
estimation · modeling · trending · anticipating · outlook
ballpark
Sports venue or estimate
- order of magnitudeApproximate size class
- roundingAdjusting to simpler values
- back-of-envelopeInformal preliminary calculation
spitballing · eyeballing · rough calculation · imprecise · inexact · approximate · close enough · rule of thumb · within range
hunch
Unproven inner sense
- gut feelingInstinctive sense about something
- instinctInnate behavioral tendency
- intuitionInstinctive immediate understanding
shot in the dark · stab · inference · surmise · sense · feeling · off the cuff · snap judgment · gut check · sixth sense
speculation
Unproven theorizing or risky investment
- conjectureGuess from limited facts
- assumptionUnverified belief accepted as true
- suppositionBelief without proof
tentative · iffy · hedging · margin of error · fuzzy · vague · unclear · imprecision · doubt · variability
projection
Something that extends outward
- predictionForecast of coming events
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
- extrapolationExtending data beyond bounds
prognosis · estimation · modeling · trending · anticipating · outlook
guestimatingcomputing
Processing data mathematically
quantifying · measuring · calculating · tabulating · enumerating
guestimatingverifying
Confirming truth or accuracy
confirming · ascertaining · establishing · proving · demonstrating