hypothesize

verb

hy·​poth·​e·​size hī-ˈpä-thə-ˌsīz 

hypothesized; hypothesizing

intransitive verb

: to make a hypothesis

transitive verb

: to adopt as a hypothesis

Synonyms

• assume
• hypothecate
• postulate
• premise
• presume
• presuppose
• say
• suppose

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

The researchers hypothesized that the higher a person’s PDHI score, the lower their risk of being among the deceased. —Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2024

Yudkin, now a visiting scholar at Penn, hypothesized that this style of investigating morality overlooks an important aspect of real life: the relational context. —Sigal Samuel, Vox, 1 May 2024

After examining observations like these, the researchers hypothesized these flows are pushed downward by gas as the frozen carbon dioxide sublimates. —Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 4 Apr. 2024

While wave formation has long been hypothesized, actual evidence has proven elusive. —Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 20 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1738, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

hypothesize

verb

hy·​poth·​e·​size hī-ˈpäth-ə-ˌsīz 

hypothesized; hypothesizing

1

: to make a hypothesis

2

: to adopt as a hypothesis