Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

second-guess

/ˈsɛk.(ə)ndˌɡɛs/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: 5.04 in modern English

Syllables: sec-ond-guess
IPA: /ˈsɛk.(ə)ndˌɡɛs/

15

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To vet or evaluate; to criticize or correct, often by hindsight, by presuming to have a better idea, method, etc.

Transitive verb

verb

To anticipate or predict someone's actions or thoughts by guesswork.

Intransitive verb; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"Please don't try to second-guess the procedure that we have already refined and adopted."
"Once she began listening to her instincts and didn't second-guess herself the entire time, her artwork improved noticeably."
"Public administration would be hamstrung if courts were free to second-guess reasonable administrative decisions."
"As a practical matter, a fertilizer company could not afford to second-guess the Federal Trade Commission or a jury in a triple damage case on so obscure a point."
"If you suspect you've stepped over the line, ask a few other copy editors to second-guess your headline."
"In this day and age, it's so easy to stress / 'Cause people are strange and you can never second-guess"

Etymology

A back-formation from second guesser, originally from baseball. First use appears c. 1941.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈsɛk.(ə)ndˌɡɛs/
British English: /ˈsɛk.əndˌɡɛs/

Usage

Inflected Forms

second-guesses (present, singular) second-guessing (participle, present) second-guessed (participle, past) second-guessed (past) second guess (alternative)

Phrases

second guesser second thoughts question mark

Frequently Paired Words

second guesser second thoughts question mark

Synonyms

reconsider rethink think over outguess

Rhymes With

yes less process guess press success access bad press unless address congress dress

Questions

How do you pronounce second-guess?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsɛk.(ə)ndˌɡɛs/.
What does second-guess mean?: To vet or evaluate; to criticize or correct, often by hindsight, by presuming to have a better idea, method, etc.
Where does second-guess come from?: A back-formation from second guesser, originally from baseball. First use appears c. 1941.

How to pronounce second-guess

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