este
B2Formal
Definition
Meaning
The action or process of estimating or calculating something's value, number, quantity, or extent.
A judgment or opinion about the value or quality of something; a written document detailing the approximate cost of work to be done.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can refer to both the mental act of judging approximate value (abstract) and a formal written document providing projected costs (concrete).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, 'estimate' is more frequently used for the document itself (e.g., 'get an estimate from the contractor'). In British English, 'quotation' or 'quote' is often used interchangeably for the document, while 'estimate' leans slightly more towards a preliminary or rough calculation.
Connotations
In both, a formal 'estimate' implies professional assessment. In US business contexts, an 'estimate' can carry a firmer expectation of the final price than in the UK.
Frequency
Common in business, technical, and everyday contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
estimate + that-clause (e.g., We estimate that...)estimate + noun (e.g., estimate the cost)estimate + noun + at + amount (e.g., estimate the damage at £5000)estimate + for + noun (e.g., estimate for the work)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “ballpark estimate”
- “a rough and ready estimate”
- “by conservative estimates”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A formal document outlining projected costs for a service or project, often required before work begins.
Academic
Used in statistics, economics, and research to refer to calculated approximations of parameters or values.
Everyday
A rough guess about cost, time, or quantity (e.g., 'Can you give me an estimate of how long it will take?').
Technical
In project management and engineering, a detailed forecast of resources, time, and costs.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The surveyor will come to estimate the value of the property.
- We estimate the journey will take about three hours.
- He estimated the crowd at nearly ten thousand.
American English
- The contractor is coming by to estimate the repair costs.
- Economists estimate inflation will fall next quarter.
- Damage from the storm was estimated in the millions.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form. Use 'approximately', 'roughly'.
American English
- No standard adverbial form. Use 'approximately', 'roughly'.
adjective
British English
- Not commonly used as a standalone adjective. Used in compounds: 'the estimated time of arrival'.
- The estimated cost proved to be significantly lower than the final bill.
American English
- Same as British. Found in phrases: 'estimated tax payments', 'estimated value'.
- The car's estimated resale value is strong.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Can you give me an estimate for fixing my bike?
- I estimate there are twenty people in the room.
- The builder provided a written estimate before starting the work.
- Scientists estimate that the forest is over 500 years old.
- Initial estimates for the project were wildly optimistic and had to be revised.
- It is difficult to estimate the long-term impact of such a policy change.
- The auditor's report contained a conservative estimate of the company's contingent liabilities.
- We must estimate the parameters of the model with a high degree of statistical confidence.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ESTImate – It's like making an 'educated STImate' (STI-mate) of something.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEASUREMENT IS CALCULATION (e.g., 'We need to take an estimate of the situation.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'оценка' when referring to the document – a written 'estimate' is often 'смета' or 'предварительный расчет'.
- Confusing 'estimate' (noun/verb) with 'esteem' (to respect).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'estimation' incorrectly for the written document (prefer 'estimate').
- Mispronouncing the verb with the same stress as the noun (in AmE: noun = ES-ti-mit, verb = ES-ti-mate).
- Confusing 'estimate at' with 'estimate to be' (both can be correct: 'estimated at £100' / 'estimated to be £100').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'estimate' used correctly as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In common usage (especially UK), they are often used interchangeably. However, a 'quote' (quotation) is typically a fixed, binding price offered for a job, while an 'estimate' is a best-guess approximation of what the cost might be, subject to change.
In American English, the noun 'estimate' is pronounced with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈɛs.tə.mət/. The verb 'estimate' has primary stress on the first syllable and secondary stress on the last: /ˈɛs.təˌmeɪt/.
Not exactly. 'Estimation' refers more to the process, action, or skill of estimating (e.g., 'His estimation of the cost was accurate'). It is not used for the written document; for that, use 'estimate'.
A common mistake is using the same pronunciation for both the noun and verb forms in contexts where stress differs (particularly in AmE). Another is overusing 'estimation' where 'estimate' (the document or the figure) is the correct term.