WordLens

theorize

1 of 1verb
/ˈθiɜ.ˌraɪz/
Forms:theorizes,theorizing,theorized,theorized
1

to formulate a hypothesis to explain something, often as a starting point for further investigation or study

transitive
  • Scientists theorized that the changes in temperature were causing the polar ice caps to melt more rapidly.
  • Economists are theorizing that higher interest rates may help slow inflation without damaging growth.
  • Based on market trends, the company has theorized that launching a new product line would attract a wider customer base.
2

to express various scenarios about something without necessarily basing it on evidence or facts

  • We spent the afternoon theorizing about what aliens might look like and how they would communicate.
  • At the party, the group theorized for fun about what society might look like in a hundred years.
  • Without solid evidence, it’s easy to theorize but harder to prove.
  • It’s common for people to theorize when they don’t have all the answers.
  • They theorized for hours but couldn’t agree on a single explanation.
3

to suggest an explanation or idea based on reasoning or evidence

transitive
  • The researcher theorized a connection between diet and improved memory.
  • She theorized a solution to the problem during the brainstorming session.
  • She theorized a solution to the problem during the brainstorming session.
  • He theorized a new way to solve the problem based on his findings.
  • She theorized a reason for the unexpected drop in sales this quarter.