theorise
Propose untested explanations
Theorise is the British spelling of theorize—to form theories or speculate about something: Scientists theorised that the extinction was caused by an asteroid impact.
It often implies reasoning without conclusive evidence: We can only theorise about what happened.
The noun is theory; the adjective theoretical.
Guess from limited facts
- postulateAssumed starting point
- proposePut forth formally
- hypothesizePropose a tentative explanation
- surmiseGuess from incomplete information
formulate · posit · speculate · suppose · premise · assumption · deduce · infer
Think about existence abstractly
- reasonBasis or justification
- contemplateConsider something thoroughly
- ponderThink deeply about
- reflectReturn light or thought
meditate · deliberate · cogitate · muse · ruminate · dialectic · syllogism · rationalize
Distilling to essential qualities
- principleFundamental truth or standard
- axiomSelf-evident starting principle
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
- rationaleStated basis for action
ideation · construct · concept · notion · model · schema · doctrine · tenet
Systematic fact-finding effort
- scholarshipEducational funding or erudition
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- paradigmGoverning framework of thought
thesis · dissertation · publish · citation · literature · academia · inquiry · investigation
conjecture
Guess from limited facts
- postulateAssumed starting point
- proposePut forth formally
- hypothesizePropose a tentative explanation
surmise · formulate · posit · speculate · suppose · premise · assumption · deduce · infer · extrapolate
philosophize
Think about existence abstractly
- reasonBasis or justification
- contemplateConsider something thoroughly
- ponderThink deeply about
reflect · meditate · deliberate · cogitate · muse · ruminate · dialectic · syllogism · rationalize · analyze
abstraction
Distilling to essential qualities
- principleFundamental truth or standard
- axiomSelf-evident starting principle
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
rationale · ideation · construct · concept · notion · model · schema · doctrine · tenet · postulation
research
Systematic fact-finding effort
- scholarshipEducational funding or erudition
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- frameworkUnderlying support system
paradigm · thesis · dissertation · publish · citation · literature · academia · inquiry · investigation · analysis
theoriseprove
Establish as fact
demonstrate · verify · test · confirm · experiment
- conspiracy theoristOne who suspects cover-ups
- conspiracy theorizingSuspecting covert coordinated wrongdoing
- political theoristScholar of government philosophy
- fan theoristInterprets hidden narrative meaning
- music theoristOne who studies musical structure
- game theoristScholar of strategic interaction
theorize, theorist, theorizing, theorized, theorizes, theorising, theorised, theorises