hypothetical
hypothetical — adjective
1. based on an idea that is accepted as true for now so that you can think about wh
based on an idea that is accepted as true for now so that you can think about what might happen next, not because it is known to be real or proven.
The economics professor asked the class to discuss a hypothetical case of sudden market collapse.
attributive: hypothetical + case
The merger question Lucía asked was purely hypothetical — no real plan existed.
predicative: be + purely hypothetical
Defne and Gabriel debated a hypothetical situation about data privacy in their law class.
Sayaka wondered how to choose in a hypothetical scenario where both job offers seemed perfect.
Tomás challenged his students to defend their stance in a hypothetical debate about taxing sugary drinks.
- theoretical
Broader than hypothetical; describes ideas that belong to a system of thought, not necessarily assumed just for argument.
- conjectural
More formal and literary; emphasizes guesswork based on incomplete evidence.
- supposed
Less formal; often implies doubt or disbelief about whether something is true.
- assumed
Focuses on taking something as a starting point, with less emphasis on imagination.
文法句型
hypothetical + noun (case/situation/scenario/example)
be + hypothetical
用法筆記
Common in academic, legal, and professional writing. The opposite of a hypothetical idea or situation is a real, actual, or proven one.