speculate
gb/spˈɛkjəlˌeɪt/ us/spˈɛkjəlˌeɪt/
B2
Inglês
~ 7000
találgat, feltételez, spekulál, töpreng, elmélkedik, latolgat
VERBO
B2
1
Padrão de uso:
to speculate about/on [something]
Reporters spent hours speculating about the cause of the crash.
A riporterek órákon át találgatták, mi okozhatta a balesetet.
Experts are speculating that the company may soon be sold.
A szakértők azt találgatják, hogy a céget hamarosan eladhatják.
Fans speculated on social media that the two actors were dating.
It is widely speculated that the prime minister will resign.
Scientists can only speculate about what lies beneath the ice.
Exemplos para aprendentes
People speculated about why the store closed.
Az emberek találgatták, miért zárt be az üzlet.
The news article speculated that prices would rise.
A hírcikk azt feltételezte, hogy az árak emelkedni fognak.
We can only speculate about what happened to him.
Some students speculated that the exam would be easy.
Many fans speculated on who would win the game.
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use the wrong preposition, saying *speculate of* instead of *speculate about* or *speculate on*. Another mistake is using *speculate* when they mean *expect* or *plan*; *speculate* always includes uncertainty and lack of full information.
Significado
guess or form theories without proof
Colocações
speculate about
|speculate on
|speculate that
|it is speculated that
|widely speculated
Sinónimos
guess (More general and informal; does not suggest serious thinking.)
|
suppose (Often softer and more conversational; can sound less uncertain than 'speculate'.)
|
theorize (Suggests more systematic or academic thinking than 'speculate'.)
|
conjecture (Formal word, mostly in writing; very close in meaning but less common in speech.)
Antónimos
know (Implies having certain information, not just an idea or guess.)
|
confirm (Means to show that something is definitely true, the opposite of only guessing about it.)
Temas
thinking
|communication
|media
|core_vocabulary
Definição
To guess or form an idea about something when you do not know all the facts, often talking about your guess.
To form ideas, theories, or opinions about something without having complete or firm evidence, often talking or writing about these guesses.
VERBO
C1
TECHNICAL
2
spekulál
B2
Padrão de uso:
to speculate in [financial asset]
He made a fortune speculating in tech stocks during the 1990s.
Az 1990-es években vagyonra tett szert azzal, hogy technológiai részvényekkel spekulált.
Investors who speculated on the housing market suffered heavy losses when prices fell.
Azok a befektetők, akik az ingatlanpiacon spekuláltak, súlyos veszteségeket szenvedtek el, amikor estek az árak.
The company does not speculate in foreign currencies but focuses on its core business.
Small investors are warned not to speculate with money they cannot afford to lose.
Traders speculated on oil futures ahead of the announcement.
Exemplos para aprendentes
He likes to speculate in the stock market.
Szeret a részvénypiacon spekulálni.
Some people speculate in houses and then sell them quickly.
Vannak, akik házakkal spekulálnak, aztán gyorsan eladják őket.
The bank does not allow its staff to speculate in company shares.
They lost money when they speculated on the price of gold.
If you speculate in currency, you can win or lose very fast.
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse this with general *invest*, not realizing that *speculate* suggests high risk and short‑term profit. Another mistake is using a person as an object, e.g. *speculate someone*, which is incorrect; you *speculate in* or *speculate on* assets or prices.
Significado
trade assets in risky way
Colocações
speculate in stocks
|speculate in property
|speculate on currency
|speculate on the market
|heavily speculate
Sinónimos
gamble (Stresses risk and possible loss even more; less technical than 'speculate'.)
|
trade (More neutral; does not always imply high risk or short‑term profit like 'speculate'.)
|
bet (Informal and emphasizes risk; used more broadly, not only for finance.)
Antónimos
save (Means keeping money safely instead of risking it in markets.)
|
invest conservatively (Focuses on low‑risk, long‑term investment, the opposite style of 'speculate'.)
Temas
business
|finance
|economics
Definição
To buy and sell things like stocks or houses in a risky way, hoping to make money if the price changes.
To buy and sell financial assets such as stocks, property, or currency in a risky way, hoping to make quick profit from changes in their price rather than from long‑term use or value.
VERBO
C1
3
Padrão de uso:
to speculate on/about [possible outcome]
Scientists speculate on how climate change will affect future generations.
A tudósok azt latolgatják, hogyan érinti majd a klímaváltozás a jövő nemzedékeit.
Philosophers have long speculated about the nature of consciousness.
A filozófusok régóta elmélkednek a tudat természetéről.
I try not to speculate on what the test results might show until I have them.
Historians can only speculate about what the king was thinking at that moment.
She spent the evening speculating quietly about where her life was heading.
Exemplos para aprendentes
We often speculate on what our lives will be like in ten years.
Gyakran töprengünk azon, milyen lesz az életünk tíz év múlva.
Doctors can only speculate about how long the treatment will take.
Az orvosok egyelőre csak latolgathatják, mennyi ideig tart majd a kezelés.
He sat by the window and speculated about his future.
Children like to speculate about life on other planets.
I do not want to speculate on the results before we see them.
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use *speculate* when they mean *plan* or *decide*, but *speculate* always keeps the idea of uncertainty. It describes thinking about different possibilities, not choosing one definite action.
Significado
think about possible outcomes
Colocações
speculate on the future
|speculate about consequences
|speculate on what might happen
|philosophers speculate
|scientists speculate
Sinónimos
ponder (Focuses more on deep, careful thinking than on lack of information.)
|
wonder (More casual and emotional; less formal than 'speculate'.)
|
reflect (Emphasizes thoughtful consideration, not necessarily about unknown things.)
Antónimos
ignore (Means to deliberately not think about something, the opposite of considering possibilities.)
|
accept (To take something as it is, without mentally exploring alternatives.)
Temas
thinking
|future
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definição
To think about what might happen or what might be true when you do not have all the facts.
To think carefully about possible results, explanations, or future events when you do not yet have enough information to be sure, often as a mental exercise rather than public talk.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
speculate
IPA
GB/spˈɛkjəlˌeɪt/
US/spˈɛkjəlˌeɪt/
Sílabas e acento
spec - u - late (3 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (spec)
Formas da palavra
Verb
- Base: speculate
- 3rd Person Singular: speculates
- Present Participle: speculating
- Past: speculated
Família de palavras
Forms
speculates
verb
speculating
verb
speculated
verb
Core family
speculation
noun B2
speculative
adjective C1
Related words
speculator
noun
speculatively
adverb
Expressões
it is speculated that
1/ˈɪt ˈɪz spˈɛkjəlˌeɪtɪd ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
formal
people say something may be true
Used in news and formal writing to say that many people guess something is true, but it is not proven.
Exemplos
- It is speculated that the company will announce major job cuts next week.
- It is speculated that the painting is worth several million dollars.
speculate about
1/spˈɛkjəlˌeɪt əbˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
talk or think guessing about something
To talk or think about why something happened or what is true, when you do not know all the facts.
Exemplos
- People like to speculate about the private lives of celebrities.
- The article speculated about possible reasons for the sudden drop in sales.
speculate in
1/spˈɛkjəlˌeɪt ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
technical
trade risky assets for profit
To buy things like stocks or houses in a risky way, hoping to sell them later for more money.
Exemplos
- He made his money by speculating in real estate.
- Small investors are warned not to speculate in complex financial products.
speculate on
1/spˈɛkjəlˌeɪt ˈɔn/
fixed phrase
guess about future events
To guess what will happen in the future, without having enough information to be sure.
Exemplos
- Analysts are speculating on how the election will affect the economy.
- We can only speculate on what the next version of the phone will look like.
speculate that
1/spˈɛkjəlˌeɪt ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
say that something might be true
To say that you think something is true, but you are not sure because you do not have enough facts.
Exemplos
- Investigators speculate that the fire started in the kitchen.
- Some scientists speculate that life may exist on other planets.