estimate

A number or opinion about size, cost, or amount, worked out without all the information.

• Can you give me an estimate?
• Our first estimate of the cost was too low.
• The plumber sent two estimates for different types of repair.

How to use it: an estimate of something (We need an estimate of the total cost.); an estimate for something (The builder gave us an estimate for the repairs.)

Similar words: approximation, rough calculation

Common phrases: rough estimate, cost estimate, estimate of something

Work out roughly how much, how big, or how many something is, using the information you have.

• Can you estimate the cost?
• We estimated that the work would take a week.
• Experts estimate the population at two million.

How to use it: estimate something at something (They estimated the damage at five thousand pounds.); estimate that… (We estimate that fifty people will attend.); estimate how much/long… (Can you estimate how long the journey will take?)

Similar words: approximate, calculate roughly

Common phrases: estimate the cost, estimate how long, estimate something at