hypothesize

verb

hy·​poth·​e·​size hī-ˈpä-thə-ˌsīz How to pronounce hypothesize (audio)
hypothesized; hypothesizing

transitive verb

: to adopt as a hypothesis

Examples of hypothesize in a Sentence

Psychologists hypothesized that his odd behavior was caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. if we hypothesize that current population trends continue for the next 50 years
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The placement of the red dot, the researchers hypothesized, could be the place of a nose. Rosa Rahimi, CNN Money, 29 May 2025 But if the clouds formed by birds’ guano do offset warming—as a study from 2016 suggests—the researchers hypothesize that drops in penguin populations could influence Antarctica’s climate. Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 May 2025 While the exact cause of Alzheimer’s isn’t known, it’s been hypothesized that the very common HSV-1, the virus that causes cold sores, might contribute to Alzheimer’s disease by causing a chronic infection in the brain, leading to inflammation and neurodegeneration. Paul McClure 20, New Atlas, 20 May 2025 The Giants gave Flores their vote of confidence multiple times this past offseason, hypothesizing that a healthy Flores could return to his 2023 form. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for hypothesize

Word History

First Known Use

1738, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of hypothesize was in 1738

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Cite this Entry

“Hypothesize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypothesize. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

hypothesize

verb
hy·​poth·​e·​size hī-ˈpäth-ə-ˌsīz How to pronounce hypothesize (audio)
hypothesized; hypothesizing
1
: to make a hypothesis
2
: to adopt as a hypothesis
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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