Basic Details
Word: Speculate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To form ideas or guesses about something without knowing all the facts.
Synonyms: guess, wonder, theorise, suppose
Word origin: From Latin speculari, to watch or spy out, from specula, a watchtower.
How to Spell Speculate
Syllables: spec - u - late
Tricky part: The vowel after spec is a u, though it sounds like a weak yuh; specalate is a common slip. Keep one l and end in -late.
Watch out for: specalate, speculete, specullate
Memory tip: Say it slowly as spec - u - late: think of a guess that comes from you (u) a little late.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Scientists speculate that there may be water under the surface of Mars.
Example 2: We could only speculate about why the bus never turned up.
Example 3: Please do not speculate about the results before they are announced.
Fun Fact
In money matters, to speculate means to buy something such as shares or land, hoping its price will rise; such buyers are called speculators.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word speculate as used in the sentence:
Fans began to speculate about who would captain the team next season.
a) confirm
b) announce
c) guess
d) forget
Show answer
c) guess. No one knew yet, so the fans could only guess; confirming and announcing need facts.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters:
sp_c_l_te
a) a, u, a
b) e, a, a
c) e, u, e
d) e, u, a
Show answer
d) e, u, a. Start with spec, put a u in the middle, and end with -late.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. sugest 2. imajine 3. estimet 4. speculate
a) to form a picture in your mind
b) to put forward an idea for others to consider
c) to roughly work out a value
d) to form ideas about something without firm facts
Show answer
d) to form ideas about something without firm facts. Imagine has a g, estimate ends in -ate and suggest has a double g, which leaves speculate.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these shows someone speculating?
a) Riya guessing why the lights went out
b) Riya counting coins in her purse
c) Riya copying notes from the board
d) Riya reading the time on a clock
Show answer
a) Riya guessing why the lights went out
2. People who speculate on the share market hope to ____.
a) make money when prices rise
b) keep their money under a bed
c) give their savings away free
d) lose all the money they put in
Show answer
a) make money when prices rise
