second-guess

verb

sec·​ond-guess ˌse-kᵊŋ-ˈges 

-kən(d)-

second-guessed; second-guessing; second-guesses

transitive verb

1

: to criticize or question actions or decisions of (someone) often after the results of those actions or decisions are known

meet almost every morning and, over coffee, second-guess the local coach

—Bruce Newman

also : to engage in such criticism of (an action or decision)

second-guess the general's strategy

2

: to seek to anticipate or predict

lived royally by his ability to second-guess the stock market

—Time

second-guesser noun

Examples of second-guess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gen Z have been second-guessing their choice to go to college for years. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025

And still, that moment left me second-guessing everything. —Rochelle Ratkaj, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025

Counsell may be second-guessed by the masses. —Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025

Trump administration lawyers have argued that the courts have no power to second-guess the president’s assertion. —Ella Lee, The Hill, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

second-guess

verb

sec·​ond-guess

ˌsek-ᵊŋ-ˈges,

-ən-

1

: to question or criticize actions or decisions of (someone) often after the results of those actions or decisions are known

2

: predict

second-guesser noun