Guess vs. Guest — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 11, 2023
"Guess" refers to an estimation or conjecture without sufficient evidence. "Guest" is someone invited to participate or stay, like in an event or at a residence. They're distinct in meaning: one's about speculation, the other pertains to invitation.
Difference Between Guess and Guest
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Key Differences
"Guess" primarily denotes an act of estimating or assuming something without having definite knowledge. It's an action often rooted in uncertainty or based on limited information. Conversely, "Guest" identifies an individual who is invited or welcomed into a place or event, often emphasizing their temporary or special status.
Contextually, when one says they have a "guess", they're often referring to an answer or opinion they've formed without concrete evidence. On the other hand, when someone mentions a "guest", they're talking about a person, possibly a visitor, friend, or family member, who is present at a location or event by invitation.
Grammatically, "Guess" can be used as both a verb and a noun. For instance, "I guess it will rain today" uses "guess" as a verb, whereas "My guess is as good as yours" employs it as a noun. "Guest", in contrast, predominantly serves as a noun, denoting a person or entity being hosted.
Culturally, making a "guess" is a common part of conversations, indicating speculation or uncertainty. "Guest", on the flip side, holds more weight, often associated with hospitality, etiquette, and social norms, indicating the presence of someone not typically there.
In some contexts, a "guess" could lead to potential errors or misjudgments due to its speculative nature. A "guest", being a person, requires certain etiquette or arrangements for their comfort and accommodation, making the roles and responsibilities associated with each word distinctly different.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun, Verb
Noun
Refers to
Estimation, assumption
Invited individual
Usage Context
Speculation
Hospitality, social settings
Associated Actions
Conjecturing
Hosting, welcoming
Potential Outcomes
Misjudgment, error
Social interactions, stay
Compare with Definitions
Guess
A supposition or assumption.
If I had to guess, I'd say it weighs about 10 pounds.
Guest
A person invited to a place or event.
We have a guest coming over for dinner tonight.
Guess
To predict (a result or an event) without sufficient information.
Guest
Someone staying temporarily at a lodging place.
The hotel is fully booked with guests.
Guess
A conclusion based on intuition.
She didn't know the answer, so she made a guess.
Guest
An invited participant in a program or show.
Tonight's talk show has a celebrity guest.
Guess
A speculative response.
What's your best guess for the riddle?
Guest
An individual receiving hospitality.
Make sure our guest has everything they need.
Guess
To assume, presume, or assert (a fact) without sufficient information.
Guest
A non-permanent member or user.
He joined the forum as a guest and later registered.
Guess
To form a correct estimate or conjecture of
Guessed the answer.
Guest
One who is a recipient of hospitality at the home or table of another.
Guess
To suppose; think
I guess he was wrong.
Guest
One to whom entertainment or hospitality has been extended by another in the role of host or hostess, as at a party.
Guess
To make an estimate or conjecture
We could only guess at her motives.
Guest
One who pays for meals or accommodations at a restaurant, hotel, or other establishment; a patron.
Guess
To estimate or conjecture correctly.
Guest
A distinguished visitor to whom the hospitality of an institution, city, or government is extended.
Guess
An act or instance of guessing.
Guest
A visiting performer, speaker, or contestant, as on a radio or television program.
Guess
A conjecture arrived at by guessing.
Guest
(Zoology) A commensal organism, especially an insect that lives in the nest or burrow of another species.
Guess
To reach a partly (or totally) unqualified conclusion.
Guest
To entertain as a guest.
Guess
To solve by a correct conjecture; to conjecture rightly.
He who guesses the riddle shall have the ring.
Guest
To appear as a guest
Guested on a television series.
Guess
To suppose (introducing a proposition of uncertain plausibility).
That album is quite hard to find, but I guess you could try ordering it online.
Guest
Provided for guests
Guest rooms.
Guess
(colloquial) To think, conclude, or decide (without a connotation of uncertainty). Usually in first person: "I guess".
"I guess you were right." "What did he say?" "He guesses you were right."
"I guess I'll go to bed."
Guest
Participating as a guest
A guest conductor.
Guess
(obsolete) To hit upon or reproduce by memory.
Guest
A recipient of hospitality, especially someone staying by invitation at the house of another.
The guests were let in by the butler.
Guess
A prediction about the outcome of something, typically made without factual evidence or support.
If you don't know the answer, take a guess.
Guest
A patron or customer in a hotel etc.
Guests must vacate their rooms by 10 o'clock on their day of departure.
Guess
To form an opinion concerning, without knowledge or means of knowledge; to judge of at random; to conjecture.
First, if thou canst, the harder reason guess.
Guest
An invited visitor or performer to an institution or to a broadcast.
The guest for the broadcast was a leading footballer.
Guess
To judge or form an opinion of, from reasons that seem preponderating, but are not decisive.
We may then guess how far it was from his design.
Of ambushed men, whom, by their arms and dress,To be Taxallan enemies I guess.
Guest
(computing) A user given temporary access to a system despite not having an account of their own.
Guess
To solve by a correct conjecture; to conjecture rightly; as, he who guesses the riddle shall have the ring; he has guessed my designs.
Guest
(zoology) Any insect that lives in the nest of another without compulsion and usually not as a parasite.
Guess
To hit upon or reproduce by memory.
Tell me their words, as near as thou canst guess them.
Guest
(zoology) An inquiline.
Guess
To think; to suppose; to believe; to imagine; - followed by an objective clause.
Not all together; better far, I guess,That we do make our entrance several ways.
But in known images of life I guessThe labor greater.
Guest
(intransitive) to appear as a guest, especially on a broadcast
Guess
To make a guess or random judgment; to conjecture; - with at, about, etc.
This is the place, as well as I may guess.
Guest
(intransitive) as a musician, to play as a guest, providing an instrument that a band/orchestra does not normally have in its line up (for instance, percussion in a string band)
Guess
An opinion as to anything, formed without sufficient or decisive evidence or grounds; an attempt to hit upon the truth by a random judgment; a conjecture; a surmise.
A poet must confessHis art 's like physic - but a happy guess.
Guest
To receive or entertain hospitably.
Guess
A message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
Guest
A visitor; a person received and entertained in one's house or at one's table; a visitor entertained without pay.
To cheer his guests, whom he had stayed that night.
True friendship's laws are by this rule exprest.Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest.
Guess
An estimate based on little or no information
Guest
A lodger or a boarder at a hotel, lodging house, or boarding house.
Guess
Expect, believe, or suppose;
I imagine she earned a lot of money with her new novel
I thought to find her in a bad state
He didn't think to find her in the kitchen
I guess she is angry at me for standing her up
Guest
Any insect that lives in the nest of another without compulsion and usually not as a parasite.
Guess
Put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation;
I am guessing that the price of real estate will rise again
I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong
Guest
To receive or entertain hospitably.
Guess
Judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time);
I estimate this chicken to weigh three pounds
Guest
To be, or act the part of, a guest.
And tell me, best of princes, who he wasThat guested here so late.
Guess
Guess correctly; solve by guessing;
He guessed the right number of beans in the jar and won the prize
Guest
A visitor to whom hospitality is extended
Guess
An estimation made without concrete evidence.
My guess is that he'll arrive by noon.
Guest
United States journalist (born in England) noted for his syndicated homey verse (1881-1959)
Guess
A conjecture amidst uncertainty.
It's anyone's guess what will happen next.
Guest
A customer of a hotel or restaurant etc.
Guest
(computer science) any computer that is hooked up to a computer network
Guest
Staying temporarily;
A visiting foreigner
Guest conductor
Common Curiosities
Can "Guess" be both a noun and a verb?
Yes, "Guess" can be used as both a noun (e.g., "my guess") and a verb (e.g., "I guess").
Is "Guest" primarily a noun or a verb?
"Guest" is primarily used as a noun.
What does "Guess" typically indicate?
"Guess" often indicates an estimation or assumption without definite evidence.
How is a "Guest" generally defined?
A "Guest" is someone who is invited or welcomed, often to an event or place.
In what scenarios might one make a guess?
In situations of uncertainty or when one lacks full information.
Can "Guess" also mean to estimate?
Yes, to "guess" can also mean to estimate or conjecture.
Are there rules for being a good guest?
Yes, typically involving etiquette, respect, and gratitude.
Is guessing considered a reliable method in scientific studies?
No, scientific methods prioritize evidence and data over guesses.
What responsibilities come with having a guest?
Responsibilities can include offering hospitality, ensuring comfort, and providing for the guest's needs.
Is it always bad to guess?
Not necessarily; sometimes it's the best approach given limited information.
Do guests always stay overnight?
No, guests can be present for short durations, like during a meal or event.
Do all cultures view guests in the same way?
No, cultural norms regarding guests can vary significantly.
How is "second guess" used?
It refers to questioning or doubting a decision after it's been made.
Can a guest also be a surprise?
Yes, sometimes guests can be unexpected or not previously announced.
Is "be my guest" an invitation?
Yes, it's an informal way of offering permission or inviting someone to proceed.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
