To theorize is to put forward an explanation for something you cannot yet check — you have a fact or an event, you do not know its cause, and you build an account of it out of reasoning. It is stronger than 'guess', because a theory is supposed to hang together and fit the known facts, but weaker than 'prove'.

To theorizeTheorize is to put forward an explanation是提出一個解釋 for something you cannot yet check針對你還無法查證的事 you have a fact or an event你有一個事實或事件 you do not know its cause不知道原因 and you build an account of it out of reasoning於是靠推理建構出一套說法 It is stronger than 'guess'它比「guess」強 because a theory is supposed to hang together and fit the known facts因為一個理論應該要能自圓其說、符合已知事實 but weaker than 'prove'但比「prove」弱

The word almost always signals that the matter is still open, so it turns up constantly in reporting: 'Police theorize that the fire started in the kitchen' means exactly that they think so and cannot yet show it.

The word almost always signals that the matter is still open這個字幾乎總是在說明事情還沒有定論 so it turns up constantly in reporting所以它常常出現在報導裡 'Police theorize that the fire started in the kitchen'「Police theorize that the fire started in the kitchen」 means exactly that they think so and cannot yet show it的意思正是，他們是這麼認為，但還無法證明

Common patterns: theorize that + a whole clause ('scientists theorize that the moon was torn from the Earth'); theorize about + a topic ('he theorized about the causes for years'); or standing alone ('we can only theorize').

Common patterns常見的搭配 theorize that + a whole clausetheorize that + 完整子句 ('scientists theorize that the moon was torn from the Earth')（'scientists theorize that the moon was torn from the Earth'） theorize about + a topictheorize about + 主題 ('he theorized about the causes for years')（'he theorized about the causes for years'） or standing alone或單獨使用 ('we can only theorize')（'we can only theorize'）

Watch the spelling: British writing prefers 'theorise', American 'theorize', and both are correct in their own place — Taiwan textbooks usually follow the American -ize.

Watch the spelling注意拼法 British writing prefers 'theorise'英式寫作偏好 'theorise' American 'theorize'美式則是 'theorize' and both are correct in their own place兩種在各自的地方都是對的 Taiwan textbooks usually follow the American -ize台灣課本通常採用美式的 -ize

Note also that the verb can carry a faint criticism when someone theorizes instead of finding out: 'stop theorizing and go and look' is a real thing people say.

Note also that the verb can carry a faint criticism還要注意，這個動詞會帶點輕微的批評意味 when someone theorizes instead of finding out當一個人只顧著 theorize 而不去查證時 'stop theorizing and go and look' is a real thing people say「stop theorizing and go and look」是人們真的會說的話