estimate 1 of 2

estimate

2 of 2

noun

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
Today the population is estimated at roughly 50,000. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 22 May 2025 It’s estimated that 20% of people around the world have high levels of Lp(a). Stacey Colino, Time, 22 May 2025
Noun
Good news for the nearly 40 million Americans expected to hit the road this Memorial Day weekend: Gas prices are likely to at their lowest level since 2021, industry estimates show. Alain Sherter, CBS News, 22 May 2025 This 2020 estimate appears conservative in light of recent U.S. test scores, which reveal the scope of the learning loss. Dan Lips, National Review, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for estimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for estimate
Verb
  • Unlike mutual funds, private equity offers little transparency, and retail investors may struggle to assess true value.
    Dan Irvine, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • In the study, sponsored by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, researchers developed a new scorecard to assess the urgency of local caregiving needs.
    Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Despite the rise in dollar amounts, beneficiaries are seeing the value of these payments eroded by inflation and structural issues in how COLAs are calculated.
    Dan Cody, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
  • Individuals have their body weight and height measured to calculate their body mass index (BMI), a simple calculation used to assess whether a person has a healthy body weight for their height.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • In their estimation, only economic power could lead to freedom.
    Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 23 May 2025
  • My own estimation of the value of this has diminished over time, however.
    Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Success in the appeal can lead to savings for several years as the change becomes the basis for the next assessment, said Sepp.
    Ana Teresa Solá, CNBC, 24 May 2025
  • Our assessment of Barrick Mining across significant metrics such as Growth, Profitability, Financial Stability, and Resilience During Downturns indicates that the company exhibits a moderate operating performance and financial health, as elaborated below.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Numbers don’t mean much if women or non-White soldiers don’t feel valued and heard.
    John Blake, CNN Money, 26 May 2025
  • That same year, Skims was valued at more than a billion dollars.
    M. J. Corey, New Yorker, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • These same concerns have figured prominently in the current South Korean presidential race.
    Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
  • Soto is sure to figure things out at the plate and the Mets have little choice but to be patient with him.
    Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • However, while consumers were more positive about current business conditions than last month, their appraisal of current job availability weakened for the fifth consecutive month.
    Dan Gooding Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
  • Centered on the author’s experience with an élite team of firefighters, this analysis of California’s wildfires entwines an account of the state’s 2021 fire season with an appraisal of its record of fire suppression.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • The swimmer, later identified as Sean Barton, a visitor from New Mexico, received initial treatment at the scene before being transported to a nearby hospital for further evaluation.
    Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2025
  • After the plane landed safely, Priester was removed by Connecticut State Police and taken by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation before he was arrested and charged.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Estimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/estimate. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on estimate

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!