estimate 1 of 2

verb

ˈe-stə-ˌmāt How to pronounce estimate (audio)
Definition of estimatenext
1
as in to assess
to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding experts estimated the value of the painting at a million dollars

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to calculate
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement we estimated the snowfall to be about a foot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

estimate

2 of 2

noun

ˈe-stə-mət How to pronounce estimate (audio)
1
as in estimation
the act of placing a value on the nature, character, or quality of something what we owe our war veterans is beyond estimate

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in assessment
an opinion on the nature, character, or quality of something the estimate of many art specialists that the painting is a fake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb estimate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of estimate are appraise, assess, evaluate, rate, and value. While all these words mean "to judge something with respect to its worth or significance," estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out.

estimated the crowd at two hundred

Where would appraise be a reasonable alternative to estimate?

The words appraise and estimate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment.

having their house appraised

When can assess be used instead of estimate?

While the synonyms assess and estimate are close in meaning, assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action.

officials are trying to assess the damage

When might evaluate be a better fit than estimate?

While in some cases nearly identical to estimate, evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary.

evaluate a student's work

How are the words rate and estimate related?

Rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values.

a highly rated restaurant

How do value and appraise relate to one another, in the sense of estimate?

Value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment.

a watercolor valued by the donor at $500

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of estimate
Verb
Con Edison estimated an after-tax loss of $170 million from the Indian Point sale, according to filings from the time. — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2025 Advocacy groups for the migrants estimate 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians now participate in the program. — Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
Noun
According to estimates by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), single-family home starts totaled 1.01 million, up 6.5 percent from 2023. — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025 As PwC’s Digital Factory Transformation Survey 2022 estimates, companies are investing over $1.1 trillion in factory technology and digitalization upgrades annually, with $214 billion of that spend happening in retail and consumer goods industries. — Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for estimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for estimate
  1. assess
  2. calculate
  3. estimation
  4. assessment
  5. value
  6. figure
  7. appraisal
  8. evaluation
Verb
  • And on the Wisconsin side, an assistant coach was assessed a technical foul on the sideline.
    — Sam Blum, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Legislation made up of three separate bills would create a New Salem Preservation Commission under IDNR to assess the site and provide a budget to fix the structures.
    — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of assess
Verb
  • Additionally, patients’ out-of-pocket costs are often calculated based on percentages of list prices that are often substantially higher than net prices.
    — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Related Stories Still, the conversion rate—calculated based on the number of site visits that result in a user purchasing something—is still 9 percent lower among consumers using generative AI, as compared with other sources of traffic.
    — Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of calculate
Noun
  • Needless to say, there is nothing little about Bill, except, perhaps, his estimation of humankind.
    — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
  • His estimation of Los Angeles (shot partially in Shanghai) is a bit too optimistic, with a fuller skyline and clean, efficient public transportation.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of estimation
Noun
  • In The Digital World Is Evolving Traditionally, risk management focused on the assessment of potential dangers and the preparation for possible outcomes through structured plans.
    — Trent Hoerr, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • High-income districts are four times more likely to have recovered, according to the Education Recovery Scorecard, which combines results from the Nation's Report Card assessment and state test scores.
    — Steph Solis, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of assessment
Verb
  • Looney is proposing bills this year that would create a tax surcharge on the capital gains income of Connecticut’s highest earners and a state property tax, ranging from two to four mills, on homes valued at $3 million or more.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2025
  • However, celebration can help others learn to value their contribution.
    — Chip Bell, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of value
Verb
  • This indicator looks at the point and figure charts of all S & P 500 members, and determines how many of them have most recently posted a buy signal using the point and figure methodology.
    — David Keller, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Athena instantly figures it out: Amber murdered those other girls and kidnapped Jayna, using Bullock as a patsy.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of figure
Noun
  • Secured loans may require additional verification steps, such as collateral appraisal or legal documentation, which can delay approval.
    — True Tamplin, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • According to the CarMax spokesperson, Arroyo did not allegedly back in the business in reaction to an appraisal offer.
    — Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of appraisal
Noun
  • This article does not constitute financial advice, and readers are encouraged to conduct their own evaluations before making business or investment decisions related to AI technologies.
    — Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
  • In most applications, enterprises must prioritize robust security measures, regular compliance evaluations, and ongoing monitoring to mitigate the inherent risks associated with implementing such systems.
    — Francis Sideco, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of evaluation

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Cite this Entry

“Estimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/estimate. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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