hypothesise
Suggest without proof
To hypothesise is to propose an explanation or theory, typically one that can be tested: Scientists hypothesised that the disease spread through contaminated water.
The word implies educated speculation rather than wild guessing—you hypothesise based on available evidence, then investigate further.
British spelling; Americans write hypothesize.
Guess from limited facts
- surmiseGuess from incomplete information
- speculateGuess based on incomplete evidence
- supposeAccept as true tentatively
- guessEstimate without certainty
postulate · presume · infer · assume · theorize · posit · guesstimate · estimation
Put forth formally
- suggestOffer an idea indirectly
- advanceMove or progress forward
- profferPresent for acceptance
- submitPresent for consideration
present · offer · posit · put forward · formulate · assert · argue · contend
Declare future outcomes
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
- anticipateExpect beforehand
- projectPlanned, effortful task
- foreseePredict future events
prognosticate · extrapolate · estimate · expect · foretell · envision · model · simulate
Explanatory set of principles
- modelRepresentation or paradigm
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- testableAble to be examined
- falsifiableCapable of being disproven
empirical · experiment · variable · evidence · methodology · research · data · systematic
conjecture
Guess from limited facts
- surmiseGuess from incomplete information
- speculateGuess based on incomplete evidence
- supposeAccept as true tentatively
guess · postulate · presume · infer · assume · theorize · posit · guesstimate · estimation · approximation
propose
Put forth formally
submit · present · offer · posit · put forward · formulate · assert · argue · contend · maintain
predict
Declare future outcomes
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
- anticipateExpect beforehand
- projectPlanned, effortful task
foresee · prognosticate · extrapolate · estimate · expect · foretell · envision · model · simulate · scenario
theory
Explanatory set of principles
falsifiable · empirical · experiment · variable · evidence · methodology · research · data · systematic · observation
- working hypothesisTestable assumption guiding inquiry
- continuum hypothesisClaim about cardinal sizes
- Red Queen hypothesisPerpetual adaptation to survive
- null hypothesisAssumed no relationship exists
- Sapir-Whorf hypothesisLanguage influences worldview theory
- hypothesis testingStatistical method for evaluating claims
hypothesis, hypothesize, hypothesized, hypothesizing, hypothesizes, hypothesised, hypothesises, hypothesising