Synonyms of estimate

estimate 1 of 2

verb

ˈe-stə-ˌmāt 

1

as in to assess

to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding

experts estimated the value of the painting at a million dollars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• assess
• value
• rate
• evaluate
• appraise
• guesstimate
• analyze
• set
• valuate
• determine
• ascertain
• learn
• deem
• discover
• price
• judge
• adjudge
• survey
• test
• decide
• prize
• underestimate
• reassess
• reevaluate
• assay
• reappraise
• revalue
• misjudge
• undervalue
• rejudge
• settle
• transvaluate
• transvalue
• misprize
• misesteem

2

as in to calculate

to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement

we estimated the snowfall to be about a foot

Synonyms & Similar Words

• calculate
• figure
• guess
• gauge
• suppose
• make
• judge
• put
• reckon
• call
• understand
• place
• conclude
• conjecture
• infer
• extrapolate
• deduce
• gather
• reason

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• measure
• scale
• compute
• calibrate
• work out

estimate

2 of 2

noun

ˈe-stə-mət 

1

as in estimation

the act of placing a value on the nature, character, or quality of something

what we owe our war veterans is beyond estimate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• estimation
• assessment
• appraisal
• evaluation
• appraisement
• calculation
• valuation
• examination
• reckoning
• measurement
• computation
• survey
• audit
• inspection
• review
• scan
• scrutiny
• reassessment
• mensuration
• checkup
• overestimation
• check
• underestimation
• transvaluation
• overevaluation

2

as in assessment

an opinion on the nature, character, or quality of something

the estimate of many art specialists that the painting is a fake

Synonyms & Similar Words

• assessment
• appraisal
• evaluation
• estimation
• impression
• appraisement
• perception
• judgment
• view
• belief
• fix
• value judgment
• theory
• feeling
• notion
• guess
• conviction
• hypothesis
• confidence
• sentiment
• trust
• conjecture
• stock
• mind
• aperçu
• surmise
• faith
• persuasion
• hunch

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb estimate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of estimate are appraise, assess, evaluate, rate, and value. While all these words mean "to judge something with respect to its worth or significance," estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out.

estimated the crowd at two hundred

Where would appraise be a reasonable alternative to estimate?

The words appraise and estimate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment.

having their house appraised

When can assess be used instead of estimate?

While the synonyms assess and estimate are close in meaning, assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action.

officials are trying to assess the damage

When might evaluate be a better fit than estimate?

While in some cases nearly identical to estimate, evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary.

evaluate a student's work

How are the words rate and estimate related?

Rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values.

a highly rated restaurant

How do value and appraise relate to one another, in the sense of estimate?

Value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment.

a watercolor valued by the donor at $500

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of estimate

Verb

But engineers estimate that once Swift drifts below 185 miles (300 kilometers) in early to mid-October, operating the telescope will become a challenge, according to NASA. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

The civilian death toll was estimated by Ghent University researchers to be 500,000, including from violence, famine and the collapse of health services. — Samuel Getachew, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026

Noun

Ralph Buehler, a professor of urban and environmental policy and planning at Virginia Tech, said that estimate is not a count of unique visitors, and someone who passed the same point repeatedly could be represented more than once. — Rick Maese, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026

Wednesday’s report was the last of three Commerce Department estimates of second-quarter GDP growth. — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026