1. To form an approximate assessment of a quantity, value or extent.
2. An approximate assessment of a quantity or an expected cost.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- estimate a cost
- estimate an effect
On the page
The analyst estimated the cost from the available records.
The study estimated the effect while reporting its uncertainty.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- estimate
- Past tense
- estimated
- Past participle
- estimated
- Present participle
- estimating
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- estimate
- Present continuous
- am/is/are estimating
- Present perfect
- have/has estimated
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been estimating
- Past
- estimated
- Past continuous
- was/were estimating
- Past perfect
- had estimated
- Past perfect continuous
- had been estimating
- Future
- will estimate
- Future continuous
- will be estimating
- Future perfect
- will have estimated
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been estimating
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: academic / formal. Forms: estimate; estimates; estimated; estimated; estimating; noun singular estimate; noun plural estimates. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: renewed assessment, explicit formulation, classification and framing. Disciplines: academic writing, formal analysis. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: estimates.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
Keep a thought for later. Sign in to save privately.