THEORIZE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does theorize mean? 

• THEORIZE (verb)
  The verb THEORIZE has 3 senses:

1. to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds

2. construct a theory about

3. form or construct theories

  Familiarity information: THEORIZE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THEORIZE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they theorize    ... he / she / it theorizes   
Past simple: theorized   
Past participle: theorized   
-ing form: theorizing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

To believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

conjecture; hypothecate; hypothesise; hypothesize; speculate; suppose; theorise; theorize

Context example:

Scientists supposed that large dinosaurs lived in swamps

Hypernyms (to "theorize" is one way to...):

anticipate; expect (regard something as probable or likely)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "theorize"):

construct; reconstruct; retrace (reassemble mentally)

develop; explicate; formulate (elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence example:

They theorize that there was a traffic accident

Derivation:

theorizer (someone who theorizes (especially in science or art))

theory (a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena)

theory (a belief that can guide behavior)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Construct a theory about

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

Galileo theorized the motion of the stars

Hypernyms (to "theorize" is one way to...):

reason (think logically)

Verb group:

theorize (form or construct theories)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

theorization (the production or use of theories)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Form or construct theories

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

he thinks and theorizes all day

Hypernyms (to "theorize" is one way to...):

reason (think logically)

Verb group:

theorize (construct a theory about)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

theorization (the production or use of theories)

 Context examples 

Researchers have long theorized that the planet’s North Polar Basin or Borealis basin was created by the impact.

(Mars May Have Had Rings, and May Once Again, VOA News)

Scientists long have theorized that Venus formed out of ingredients similar to Earth’s, but followed a different evolutionary path.

(NASA Climate Modeling Suggests Venus May Have Been Habitable, NASA)

They theorized that, during cold spells, people are more likely to seek shelter and so could more easily escape the cold’s effects.

(Extreme temperatures could increase preterm birth risk, NIH)

It is a capital mistake to theorize in advance of the facts.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Astronomers have long theorized that these winds would also drag the galaxy's magnetic field in the same direction, but despite numerous studies, there has been no observational proof of the concept.

(Galactic Wind Provides Clues to Evolution of Galaxies, NASA)

The researchers theorized that when increased levels of algae produce meals for microbes, there are also higher levels of potentially harmful microbes throughout the reef ecosystem.

(Too much algae and too many microbes threaten coral reefs, NSF)

The scientific men shook their heads and theorized.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

A fully developed elliptical galaxy is a gas-deficient gathering of ancient stars theorized to develop from the inside out, with a compact core marking its beginnings.

(Telescopes Uncover Early Construction of Giant Galaxy, NASA)

The researchers theorize that the latter had more reactions that made phosphorus because it was denser or more massive.

(Finding Alien Life Unlikely Due to Lack of Phosphorus in Universe, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Scientists theorize that the decay of radioactive elements within Ceres produced heat that drove this alteration process, separating Ceres into a rocky interior and icy outer shell.

(Where is the Ice on Ceres?, NASA)