Word · CEFR C2 · Frequency #8688
hypothetical
假设的；假定的；猜测的
Based on an assumption or conjecture rather than on known facts; supposed.
- 1.
Based upon a hypothesis; conjectural.
基于假设的；推测的
- 2.
Conditional; contingent upon some hypothesis/antecedent.
有条件的；取决于某个假设/前提的
- 3.
based primarily on surmise rather than adequate evidence
主要基于猜测而非充分证据的
条件的；依假设而定的；基于假设的；推测的；有条件的；取决于某个假设/前提的；主要基于猜测而非充分证据的；假设的
In use
Let's consider a hypothetical situation where you win the lottery.
The professor asked us to discuss a hypothetical question in class.
In a hypothetical scenario, the company might double its profits.
hypothetical situation
hypothetical + noun
常用于修饰 situation, question, scenario 等名词。
We considered a hypothetical scenario.
我们考虑了一个假设的情景。
be + hypothetical
作表语时，常与 purely 等副词连用。
His argument is purely hypothetical.
他的论点纯粹是假设性的。
hypothetical + about + noun/verb-ing
Connections
Collocations
- hypothetical question
- 假设性问题
- The teacher asked a hypothetical question about life on other planets.老师问了一个关于其他星球上生命的假设性问题。
- hypothetical scenario
- 假设情景
- Let's consider a hypothetical scenario where the company loses its biggest client.让我们考虑一个假设情景：公司失去了最大的客户。
- hypothetical example
- 假设例子
- He used a hypothetical example to illustrate the difficulty of the decision.他用一个假设例子来说明这个决定有多难。
- hypothetical case
- 假设案例
- The lawyer discussed a hypothetical case to clarify the legal principle.律师讨论了一个假设案例，以澄清这项法律原则。
- purely hypothetical
- 纯属假设的
- The discussion is purely hypothetical; no such plan exists.这次讨论纯属假设；并不存在这样的计划。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
记忆法：想象科学家在黑板上列满 hypothesis（假设），hypothetical 就是‘假设的、推测的’结论。
Context & Register
语域：mixed 常见场景：学术讨论、逻辑或法律推理、日常口语 该词通常用于学术、逻辑或法律等较正式的语境，表示基于假设而非事实；口语中也有“hypothetically speaking”之类的常见说法，总体不算生硬，但仍偏正式。
Grammar Note
通常用于名词前作定语，或系动词后作表语。
Pronunciation & Spelling
These -ical words are spelling lookalikes for hypothetical. Genuine exact rhymes are not included, since the given pronunciation /ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtəkəl/ is not matched by any of these. Parenthetical and antithetical are closest: they share the stressed syllable /θɛt/ and the -thetical suffix, but they are usually pronounced with /ɪ/ rather than /ə/ in the final syllable, so they are near rhymes. Theoretical, practical, political, and typical have different stressed vowels and do not rhyme.
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.