MEANING
To suppose or infer something from incomplete evidence.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- surmise that
- surmise from the evidence
On the page
She surmised that the letter had been opened before it reached her.
From the ash on his sleeve, he surmised a visit to the burned house.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- surmise
- Past tense
- surmised
- Past participle
- surmised
- Present participle
- surmising
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- surmise
- Present continuous
- am/is/are surmising
- Present perfect
- have/has surmised
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been surmising
- Past
- surmised
- Past continuous
- was/were surmising
- Past perfect
- had surmised
- Past perfect continuous
- had been surmising
- Future
- will surmise
- Future continuous
- will be surmising
- Future perfect
- will have surmised
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been surmising
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary. Forms: surmise; surmises; surmised; surmised; surmising Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Third-person singular: surmises.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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