second-guess

== English == === Alternative forms === second guess === Etymology === A back-formation from second guesser, originally from baseball. First use appears c. 1941. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈsɛk.əndˌɡɛs/ (General American) enPR: sĕkʹəndgĕs', IPA(key): /ˈsɛk.(ə)ndˌɡɛs/, /ˈsɛk.(ə)ntˌɡɛs/ (Canada) IPA(key): /ˈsɛk.ɪndˌɡɛs/ (Australian, New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈsek.ən(t)ˌɡes/ Rhymes: -ɛs === Verb === second-guess (third-person singular simple present second-guesses, present participle second-guessing, simple past and past participle second-guessed) (transitive) To vet or evaluate; to criticize or correct, often by hindsight, by presuming to have a better idea, method, etc. Synonyms: reconsider, rethink, think over (transitive, intransitive) To anticipate or predict someone's actions or thoughts by guesswork. ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === See also === second thoughts question mark (particle) === References === Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “second-guess”, in Online Etymology Dictionary. “second-guess” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary. “second-guess”, in Encyclopedia.com‎[1], (Can we date this quote?) “second-guess”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. "second-guess" in WordNet 2.0, Princeton University, 2003. “second-guess”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.