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Inglês

hypothetical

gb/hˌaɪpəθˈɛtɪkəl/ us/hˌaɪpəθˈɛtɪkəl/
B2 Inglês
~ 9500
Aceções
0 aceções
adjective B2 property
1

imagined, not necessarily real

Imagined as an example or idea, but not known to be real or true.

Padrão de uso: [a] hypothetical [situation/case/example/question]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use "hypothetical" when they simply mean "false" or "fake". "Hypothetical" means something is imagined for thinking or talking, not that it is a lie. Learners also confuse "hypothetical" with "theoretical"; "hypothetical" usually refers to a specific imagined case, while "theoretical" refers more to general ideas or principles.
Sinónimos
imaginary (Often suggests something made up or unrealistic, while "hypothetical" can be used in serious discussion and analysis.) | supposed (Can sound less formal and may hint at doubt or suspicion, whereas "hypothetical" is neutral and analytical.) | theoretical (Focuses on ideas rather than practice; in everyday talk it can overlap with "hypothetical" but more strongly suggests a system of ideas.)
Antónimos
real (Describes something that actually exists, not just imagined for discussion.) | actual (Stresses that something is true in fact, not just an assumed or invented case.)
Colocações
hypothetical question |hypothetical situation |hypothetical scenario |purely hypothetical |entirely hypothetical |hypothetical example
Temas
reasoning |conversation |education |communication |core_vocabulary
Exemplos
  • Let me ask you a hypothetical question about your future career.
  • In a purely hypothetical situation where you won the lottery, what would you do first?
  • The lawyer used a hypothetical example to explain how the law would apply.
  • They discussed a hypothetical scenario in which the company lost half its customers.
  • This is just a hypothetical case, not something that has really happened.
Exemplos para aprendentes
  • The teacher gave a hypothetical example in class.
  • We talked about a hypothetical situation where there was no internet.
  • He answered a hypothetical question about moving to another country.
  • This problem is hypothetical, but it helps us think.
  • She likes to imagine hypothetical worlds in her stories.
adjective technical C1 property
2

based on an unproven hypothesis

Based on a scientific idea that has not yet been proven true or shown in the real world.

Padrão de uso: [a] hypothetical [model/particle/mechanism/construct]
Erro comum:
Learners may overuse this technical sense in everyday speech, saying things like "a hypothetical friend" when they just mean an imaginary example in conversation; the general sense in meaning 1 is more appropriate there. In scientific writing, learners sometimes confuse "hypothetical" with "ideal"; "hypothetical" means not yet proven, while "ideal" means perfect or simplified.
Sinónimos
theoretical (Very close in meaning, but "theoretical" can sound slightly broader, covering whole systems of ideas, while "hypothetical" often stresses a specific unproven entity or explanation.) | speculative (Suggests a greater degree of uncertainty or guesswork than "hypothetical", which can be carefully reasoned.)
Antónimos
confirmed (Emphasizes that evidence now shows the idea or entity is actually true or real.) | empirical (Stresses that something is based on observed data, not only on an untested hypothesis.)
Colocações
hypothetical model |hypothetical particle |hypothetical mechanism |hypothetical construct |hypothetical ancestor |hypothetical pathway
Temas
science |academia |research |education
Exemplos
  • Researchers proposed a hypothetical mechanism to explain the sudden climate changes.
  • Physicists are still searching for evidence of this hypothetical particle.
  • The study uses a hypothetical model of market behavior to predict prices.
  • He described a hypothetical ancestor shared by humans and other primates.
  • The psychologist introduced a hypothetical construct to capture this type of motivation.
Exemplos para aprendentes
  • Scientists tested a hypothetical model of the disease.
  • The book talks about a hypothetical planet outside our solar system.
  • They built a hypothetical system on a computer to study the problem.
  • This is a hypothetical virus that does not exist in real life.
  • The professor explained how a hypothetical gene could cause the illness.
Nome C1 entity
3

an imagined example or case

An imagined example or story that people use to think about a problem or idea.

Padrão de uso: [a] hypothetical about [something]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes say "an hypothetical" because they see the written 'h'. In modern English pronunciation, the 'h' is sounded, so the correct form is "a hypothetical". Another mistake is thinking "a hypothetical" means a guess about real events; it is specifically an invented example.
Sinónimos
thought experiment (Often sounds more philosophical or formal; "a hypothetical" is more general and common in everyday academic talk.) | example (Very general; not all examples are imagined, while a "hypothetical" is specifically an invented case.)
Antónimos
real case (Refers to an actual event or situation, not one that is invented for discussion.) | actual example (Stresses that the example really happened, unlike a hypothetical.)
Colocações
a hypothetical |legal hypothetical |classroom hypothetical |pose a hypothetical |discuss a hypothetical |answer a hypothetical
Temas
education |law |philosophy |communication |core_vocabulary
Exemplos
  • The professor started with a simple hypothetical to introduce the topic.
  • Law students spent the class arguing about a complex legal hypothetical.
  • Let me give you a hypothetical so you can see how the policy would work.
  • He likes to test his moral beliefs with difficult hypotheticals.
  • We used a series of hypotheticals to train the new managers.
Exemplos para aprendentes
  • The teacher used a hypothetical to explain the rule.
  • In class, we talked about a hypothetical where a robot makes choices.
  • The lawyer asked the jury to think about a hypothetical.
  • She enjoys answering hypotheticals about ethics.
  • Our homework was to write one hypothetical for the next lesson.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
hypothetical
IPA
GB/hˌaɪpəθˈɛtɪkəl/
US/hˌaɪpəθˈɛtɪkəl/
Sílabas e acento
hy - po - thet - ic - al (5 sílabas)
Stress on 3rd syllable (thet)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
  • Base: hypothetical
Noun
  • Base: hypothetical
  • Plural: hypotheticals
Família de palavras
Forms
hypotheticals noun
Core family
hypothesis noun B2 hypothesize verb C1 hypothetically adverb
Related words
hypothesise verb
Expressões

a hypothetical case

1
/ə hˌaɪpəθˈɛtɪkəl kˈeɪs/
fixed phrase formal

invented case for analysis

An invented story about a legal or medical problem that people use to study or discuss rules.

Exemplos
  • The judge explained the law by referring to a hypothetical case.
  • Medical students discussed a hypothetical case involving a rare disease.
  • In this article, I will consider a hypothetical case to show the ethical dilemma.

a hypothetical question

1
/ə hˌaɪpəθˈɛtɪkəl kwˈɛst͡ʃən/
fixed phrase

question about an imagined situation

A question that asks you to think about something that is not real, but only imagined.

Exemplos
  • The interviewer began with a hypothetical question about losing your job.
  • Students practiced answering a hypothetical question in the mock interview.
  • He hates it when people ask hypothetical questions about disasters.

a hypothetical scenario

1
/ə hˌaɪpəθˈɛtɪkəl sɪnˈɑɹioʊ/
fixed phrase

imagined scenario to test outcomes

An imagined story about what could happen, used to think about possible results.

Exemplos
  • The team modeled a hypothetical scenario in which demand doubled overnight.
  • She described a hypothetical scenario where the two countries went to war.
  • They ran several hypothetical scenarios before choosing a strategy.

a hypothetical situation

1
/ə hˌaɪpəθˈɛtɪkəl sˌɪt͡ʃuˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase

imagined situation for discussion

An imagined situation that people talk about to understand a problem or idea.

Exemplos
  • They talked through a hypothetical situation where the main server failed.
  • In this hypothetical situation, you are the manager of a small team.
  • We used a hypothetical situation to practice emergency responses.

highly hypothetical

1
/hˈaɪli hˌaɪpəθˈɛtɪkəl/
fixed phrase

very uncertain and speculative

Used to say that an idea or explanation is very unsure and mostly based on imagination, not on facts.

Exemplos
  • At this stage, any estimate of the cost is highly hypothetical.
  • Their theory is interesting but still highly hypothetical.
  • These numbers are highly hypothetical and should be treated with caution.

in a hypothetical situation

1
/ˈɪn ə hˌaɪpəθˈɛtɪkəl sˌɪt͡ʃuˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase

introducing an imagined situation

Used to start talking about a situation that is not real, but imagined.

Exemplos
  • In a hypothetical situation where you had no budget limit, what would you buy?
  • How would you react in a hypothetical situation like that?
  • In a hypothetical situation with full data, the model would be more accurate.

purely hypothetical

1
/pjˈʊɹli hˌaɪpəθˈɛtɪkəl/
fixed phrase

only imagined, not real at all

Used to say that a question or situation is completely imagined and not about something that has really happened.

Exemplos
  • This is a purely hypothetical question, so please do not take it personally.
  • Let me give you a purely hypothetical example to show the risk.
  • Their fears are, at this point, purely hypothetical.
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