Outguess

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To anticipate and counter the intentions or strategy of another person by predicting their thoughts or actions in advance
2. To surpass another's foresight by accurately anticipating their decisions or plans and skillfully adjusting one's own approach accordingly
3. To successfully predict another person's future actions or strategies by interpreting their intentions and modifying one's own plans accordingly

Etymology: "Outguess" is simply "out-" attached to "guess," and the pieces are old ones: "out" traces back through Old English "ūt" to a Proto-Germanic root, while "guess" came into English from Middle English and has been in use for centuries. The combination produces a verb meaning to get ahead of someone by predicting what they will do and adjusting your own move accordingly. The prefix does the real work here. In "outrun," "outwit," and "outlast," "out-" means to exceed or surpass, so "outguess" follows that same pattern, applying the prefix to the act of guessing. The word is a transparent formation, so its sense is essentially built into its parts: you outguess someone when your guess about their behaviour turns out to be better than theirs was about yours.

Synonyms: anticipate, predict, foresee

Antonyms: underestimate, misjudge