estimate 1 of 2

verb

ˈe-stə-ˌmāt How to pronounce estimate (audio)
Definition of estimatenext
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

Relevance
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

estimate

2 of 2

noun

ˈe-stə-mət How to pronounce estimate (audio)
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
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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of estimate
Verb
Those behind the initiative estimate the tax would generate upwards of $100 billion — money that would plug California’s budget deficit several times over. —Gordon Ebanks, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026 Meta’s Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram platforms are estimated to be among the most popular apps in India while there is also a big audience for Google’s YouTube. —Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
The estimates are between 4,000 and 10,000. —Sarah Koch, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026 Some even rosier estimates have put the figure closer to 50%. —Calmatters, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for estimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for estimate
  1. assess
  2. calculate
  3. estimation
  4. assessment
  5. value
  6. figure
  7. appraisal
  8. evaluation
Verb
  • Each time an experienced attorney leaves, leaders assess that prosecutor’s caseload and make decisions about how many of their cases can be reassigned to remaining staff and which will be dropped due to diminished resources.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Each time an experienced attorney leaves, leaders assess that prosecutor's caseload and make decisions about how many of their cases can be reassigned to remaining staff and which will be dropped due to diminished resources.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of assess
Verb
  • So take the time to calculate your costs with both rates and terms, and don't forget to account for mortgage refinancing closing costs, which can typically be rolled into your new loan or paid upfront.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
  • That included calculating not only its carbon footprint, but also its water use footprint and biodiversity impacts across operations.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of calculate
Noun
  • By anyone else’s estimation, Laxness’s books had sold robustly in Iceland for years.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Today, lots of them — at least, in Dwyer's estimation — fear that their children won't live better or wealthier lives by comparison.
    — Megan Sauer, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of estimation
Noun
  • And in a recent assessment of the chances for a Supreme Court vacancy, Washington consultant Bruce Mehlman noted that all of the justices are well-below the average age of 79 for those who’ve stepped down in recent years.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Putin thought a window of opportunity had finally emerged, such that in those historical assessments Ukraine will follow from Afghanistan much as Poland in 1939 followed from Munich in 1938.
    — Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
Definition of assessment
Verb
  • Pitchbook’s Zabelin said the company is valued at more than $10 billion, adding that Mercor and its competitors’ high values show investors think services like human feedback and expert testing of AI models are becoming a permanent and essential part of how AI systems are built and improved.
    — Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
  • With this operation, the brand is now valued at 11 billion euros.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 16 Feb. 2026
Definition of value
Verb
  • The game was scheduled a year earlier when Geneva officials learned declining enrollment would drop the school to Class 3A and figured the two neighbors would be in the same sectional.
    — Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald had figured to promote from within to replace Kubiak, who is hiring former Seattle quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko to serve as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
Definition of figure
Noun
  • Such an appraisal is the rule, where Bingham’s influence is concerned.
    — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
  • The plan froze property values for two years after the 2024 appraisal was done, meaning if the property value goes up or down based on the economic climate, the property’s value won’t actually change until the next appraisal is done in 2027.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Feb. 2026
Definition of appraisal
Noun
  • The Army’s evaluation of the TRV-150 signals growing interest in shifting more logistical tasks to autonomous systems.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Continue reading … -- POLITICS ATOM ADVANCE — Military airlifts next-gen nuclear reactor to Utah for testing and evaluation.
    — , FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Definition of evaluation

Browse Nearby Words

estimable
estimate
estimated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Estimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/estimate. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on estimate

Nglish: Translation of estimate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words For Things You Didn't Know Have Names, Vol. 3

Why is the letter ‘Z’ associated with sleeping?

Why do we say 'head over heels'?

The Words of the Week - Feb. 20

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

Words For Things You Didn't Know Have Names, Vol. 3

Why is the letter ‘Z’ associated with sleeping?
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
vector art of man ready to cut messy balls of thread with scissors
Commonly Confused Words Quiz Vol. 2 A quiz to (peak/peek/pique) your interest.
See All