guess about vs guess at

Both 'guess about' and 'guess at' are commonly used phrases in English, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Guess about' is used when talking about the subject or topic of the guess, while 'guess at' is used when referring to the act of guessing itself.

Last updated: March 21, 2024 • 1403 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to the subject or topic of the guess.

"guess about"

Use 'guess about' when you want to talk about the subject or topic of the guess. For example, 'Can you guess about what happened?'

Examples:

Can you guess about the outcome of the meeting?
I can only guess about his intentions.
She tried to guess about the answer.
Let's guess about the number of people who will attend.
I'm just guessing about the reasons behind his actions.

Show examples from the web [+]

Have a guess! guess (about something) The article is based on guesses about what might happen in the future. They might be here by 3—but that's just a rough ...
Try to make the right guess! Can you read people? Think well, take your time and do your best shot! As a clue, a picture is all you have got. Guess about people ...
... say/admit/think/guess as much phrase · I/you/she etc would never guess phrase · your guess is as good as mine phrase · guess at · guess (that) · guess about.
Jan 7, 2016 ... What is something people would never guess about you at first glance? (self. AskReddit). submitted 2 months ago by PEPESILVIAisNIGHTMAN.

Alternatives:

speculate about
hypothesize about
conjecture about
estimate about
predict about

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to the act of guessing.

"guess at"

Use 'guess at' when you want to refer to the act of guessing itself. For example, 'I can only guess at what the final decision will be.'

Examples:

I can only guess at his true feelings.
She tried to guess at the answer.
Let's guess at the number of jellybeans in the jar.
He's just guessing at the solution.
Can you guess at the time it will take to finish?

Show examples from the web [+]

I had to guess at what you might like.
And I had to guess at what you might like.
We can only try to guess at these.
Now we don't have to guess at what she wants.
And I'm afraid of many, many more things besides that people can't even guess at.
I'm going to make a guess at 74 miles an hour.
Let me try to guess at something and you tell me how close I am to being right.
A mathematical equation to help the computer guess at what's between the dots.
If we know the order of notes in a melody, we can take a good guess at the next note.
Probably for reasons we can't even guess at.
Resistance militia is the best guess at who these guys are.
You made a pretty good guess at my measurements.
That's a guess at best, Agent.
We can't possibly guess at his motives.
Unconsciously, perhaps, by some biological or psychic mechanism that we can only guess at.
Or not a guess at all.
You have to guess at the motives of the kidnappers.
I guess at the very least, I wanted to find...
Take a guess at the first question.
I can only guess at your motives, My Lady.

Alternatives:

speculate at
hypothesize at
conjecture at
estimate at
predict at

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guess about vs guess at

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