second-guess
To vet or evaluate; to criticize or correct, often by hindsight, by presuming to have…To vet or evaluate; to criticize or correct, often by hindsight, by presuming to have a better idea, method, etc.
Meaning
2 senses(transitive)To vet or evaluate; to criticize or correct, often by hindsight, by presuming to have a better idea, method, etc.
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.
in Frage stellen, überdenken, überprüfen
критикова́тьkritikovátʹ, суди́ть задним числомsudítʹ zadnim čislom
evaluate or criticize with hindsight
(intransitive, transitive)To anticipate or predict someone's actions or thoughts by guesswork.
attempt to anticipate or predict
Translations
5 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
A back-formation from second guesser, originally from baseball. First use appears c. 1941.A back-formation from second guesser, originally from baseball. First use appears c. 1941.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
second-guesses, second-guessing, second-guessed, second-guessed| Base form | second-guess · to second-guess |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | second-guesses |
| Present participle | second-guessing |
| Past simple | second-guessed |
| Past participle | second-guessed |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
4 synonyms- attempt to anticipate or predict:outguess
Word family
3 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle