TOEFL Vocabulary | hypothesize

Hypothesize (verb) - Definition and TOEFL Usage:

1. [intransitive verb] To form a hypothesis; to propose a tentative explanation for a phenomenon that can be further tested. "Scientists hypothesize about the origins of the universe."

2. [transitive verb] To propose or put forward (a hypothesis or theory) as an explanation for something. "Researchers hypothesized that sleep deprivation affects memory retention."

Usage Notes:

• Formal/Academic contexts

• Often followed by "that" clause

• Common in scientific writing

Common Academic Contexts:

• Scientists hypothesize about climate change impacts

• Researchers hypothesize new learning methods for language acquisition

Example

• Scientists often hypothesize before conducting experiments to have a basis for their research.

• If you hypothesize that the sun will rise tomorrow, you're making an educated guess based on previous observations.

• To solve the mystery, the detective had to hypothesize about the possible motives of the suspects.

• In her thesis, she hypothesized that social media has a significant impact on teenage self-esteem.

• Economists hypothesize about the future of the market to advise investors and policymakers.

Related TOEFL Vocabulary:

• Hypothesis (noun) - essential for academic writing tasks

• Hypothetical (adjective) - useful in speaking response scenarios

• Hypothetically speaking (phrase) - valuable for opinion expression

Synonyms:

• theorize

• postulate

• conjecture

• suppose

• speculate

Learning Through Stories

Tommy loved the stars. Every night, he would look up and hypothesize about their secrets. "Maybe they are suns with planets like ours," he thought. He wrote his ideas in a notebook, dreaming of becoming an astronomer. His teacher encouraged him, saying, "Keep hypothesizing, Tommy. One day, you might discover something new!”

In a small village, a curious girl named Lily loved to hypothesize about the rain. She observed the clouds and predicted when it would fall. "If the clouds are dark and heavy, it might rain soon," she would say. With her notes, she helped the villagers plan their work. Lily dreamed of becoming a scientist, using her hypotheses to understand the weather better.

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