C1verbacademic
US/ˈspek.jə.leɪt/
UK/ˈspek.jə.leɪt/
to form ideas or guesses about something without having enough facts to be sure
In context
The authors speculate that the effect may be weaker in older learners.
Without more data, it would be unwise to speculate about the causes.
Journalists speculated for weeks on why the minister had suddenly resigned.
Words that go with speculate
verb + preposition
- speculate aboutIt is pointless to speculate about what might have happened.
- speculate onThe article speculates on the future of the printed book.
adverb + verb
- widely speculatedIt was widely speculated that the exam questions had been leaked.
- only speculateWe can only speculate about why the ancient city was abandoned.
verb + adverb
- speculate wildlyFans began to speculate wildly about the singer's next album.