estimate

verb

es·ti·mate | \ ˈe-stə-ˌmāt \

estimated; estimating

Definition of estimate

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 archaic

a : esteem

b : appraise

2a : to judge tentatively or approximately the value, worth, or significance of

b : to determine roughly the size, extent, or nature of

c : to produce a statement of the approximate cost of

3 : judge, conclude

estimate

noun

es·ti·mate | \ ˈe-stə-mət \

Definition of estimate (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the act of appraising or valuing : calculation

2 : an opinion or judgment of the nature, character, or quality of a person or thing had a high estimate of his abilities

3a : a rough or approximate calculation

b : a numerical value obtained from a statistical sample and assigned to a population parameter

4 : a statement of the cost of work to be done

Other Words from estimate Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about estimate

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for estimate

Verb

estimate, appraise, evaluate, value, rate, assess 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 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 evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary. evaluate a student's work value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment. a watercolor valued by the donor at $500 rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values. a highly rated restaurant 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

Examples of estimate in a Sentence

Verb

They estimated the distance at about three miles. We need to estimate how much paint we'll need for the job.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Ms Wang estimates that, all told, the money spent on unofficial gambling is at least five times that wagered on the state lottery. — The Economist, "The Chinese state manages the world’s second-biggest lottery industry," 31 Aug. 2019 In June, analysts with Barclays estimated that the change would cost Uber and Lyft an extra $3,625 per driver in California—adding up to more than $500 million a year for Uber and $290 million for Lyft. — Wired, "A California Bill Has Uber and Lyft Running Scared," 30 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'estimate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

estimate

Definition of estimate

Other Words from estimate

Synonyms for estimate

Choose the Right Synonym for estimate

Examples of estimate in a Sentence

First Known Use of estimate

History and Etymology for estimate

estimate

Definition of estimate

Other Words from estimate

Synonyms for estimate

Choose the Right Synonym for estimate

Examples of estimate in a Sentence

First Known Use of estimate

History and Etymology for estimate

WORD OF THE DAY