hypothesize
Suggest without proof
To hypothesize is to propose an explanation or prediction that can be tested: Scientists hypothesized that the drug would reduce inflammation.
The word belongs primarily to scientific and academic contexts, where a hypothesis serves as a starting point for investigation.
More casually, it means to speculate or guess with some basis: I can only hypothesize about her motives.
Guess based on incomplete evidence
- surmiseGuess from incomplete information
- theorizeForm explanatory suppositions
- inferDerive by reasoning
- presumeAccept without verification
assume · guess · suppose · postulate · extrapolate · deduce · estimate · approximate
Put forth formally
- assertDeclare confidently true
- contendStruggle in opposition
- argueVerbally oppose another's view
- claimStatement of ownership or truth
posit · suggest · maintain · advance · submit · reason · support · defend
Assumed starting point
- formulateCreate methodically
- theorizeForm explanatory suppositions
- modelRepresentation or paradigm
- frameworkUnderlying support system
paradigm · proposition · premise · axiom · conceptualize · generalize · abstraction · construct
Prediction of future conditions
- anticipateExpect beforehand
- projectPlanned, effortful task
- extrapolateExtend known data outward
- foreseePredict future events
expect · prognosticate · estimate · envision · prophesy · foresight · projection · prognosis
Systematic investigation procedure
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- variablesChangeable elements in equations
- studyDeliberate learning effort
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
data · findings · results · evidence · conclusion · statistics · quantitative · qualitative
speculate
Guess based on incomplete evidence
- surmiseGuess from incomplete information
- theorizeForm explanatory suppositions
- inferDerive by reasoning
presume · assume · guess · suppose · postulate · extrapolate · deduce · estimate · approximate · guesstimate
propose
Put forth formally
claim · posit · suggest · maintain · advance · submit · reason · support · defend · justify
postulate
Assumed starting point
framework · paradigm · proposition · premise · axiom · conceptualize · generalize · abstraction · construct · predict
forecast
Prediction of future conditions
- anticipateExpect beforehand
- projectPlanned, effortful task
- extrapolateExtend known data outward
foresee · expect · prognosticate · estimate · envision · prophesy · foresight · projection · prognosis · scenario
experiment
Systematic investigation procedure
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- variablesChangeable elements in equations
- studyDeliberate learning effort
methodology · data · findings · results · evidence · conclusion · statistics · quantitative · qualitative · correlation
- proposesuggest, offer, submit, recommend, put forward
- thinkingthinking, reasoning, thought, ponder, contemplate
- analysisanalyze, analysis, evaluate, data analysis, examine
- examineexamine, analyze, assess, evaluate, inspect
- planningplan, planned, planners, to-do lists, calendars
- understandingunderstand, comprehend, grasp, fathom, follow
hypothesizeprove
Establish as fact
confirm · demonstrate · establish · verify · conclude
hypothesizedemonstrate
Show or prove something
test · experiment · observe · measure · document
- 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, hypothesized, hypothesizing, hypothesizes, hypothesised, hypothesise, hypothesises, hypothesising