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Definition of hypothesis noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    hypothesis

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//haɪˈpɑθəsəs//
     
    (pl. hypotheses
    NAmE//haɪˈpɑθəsiz//
     
    )
     
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  1. 1[countable] an idea or explanation of something that is based on a few known facts but that has not yet been proved to be true or correct synonym theory to formulate/confirm a hypothesis a hypothesis about the function of dreams There is little evidence to support these hypotheses. Topic CollocationsScientific Researchtheory
    • formulate/advance a theory/hypothesis
    • build/construct/create/develop a simple/theoretical/mathematical model
    • develop/establish/provide/use a theoretical/conceptual framework/an algorithm
    • advance/argue/develop the thesis that…
    • explore an idea/a concept/a hypothesis
    • make a prediction/an inference
    • base a prediction/your calculations on something
    • investigate/evaluate/accept/challenge/reject a theory/hypothesis/model
    experiment
    • design an experiment/a questionnaire/a study/a test
    • do research/an experiment/an analysis
    • make observations/calculations
    • take/record measurements
    • carry out/conduct/perform an experiment/a test/a longitudinal study/observations/clinical trials
    • run an experiment/a simulation/clinical trials
    • repeat an experiment/a test/an analysis
    • replicate a study/the results/the findings
    • observe/study/examine/investigate/assess a pattern/a process/a behavior
    • fund/support the research/project/study
    • seek/provide/get/secure funding for research
    results
    • collect/gather/extract data/information
    • yield data/evidence/similar findings/the same results
    • analyze/examine the data/soil samples/a specimen
    • consider/compare/interpret the results/findings
    • fit the data/model
    • confirm/support/verify a prediction/a hypothesis/the results/the findings
    • prove a conjecture/hypothesis/theorem
    • draw/make/reach the same conclusions
    • read/review the records/literature
    • describe/report an experiment/a study
    • present/publish/summarize the results/findings
    • present/publish/read/review/cite a paper in a scientific journal
  2. 2[uncountable] guesses and ideas that are not based on certain knowledge synonym speculation It would be pointless to engage in hypothesis before we have the facts.
See hypothesis in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary