A hypothesis is a proposed explanation that can be tested against evidence.

The idea

Hypothesis is countable: a hypothesis becomes two hypotheses. You can propose, test or support a hypothesis.

Examples

  • The team tested the hypothesis that warmer water speeds up growth.
  • Mina proposed a hypothesis about the missing keys.
  • The results did not support their hypothesis.
  • Two hypotheses could explain the drop in sales.
  • Our hypothesis can be checked with a survey.
  • After observing the birds, Leo revised the original hypothesis.

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Watch out

A hypothesis is not an established fact: evidence may support it or show that it needs revision.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the plural. The researchers compared three ___. (hypothesis / hypotheses)

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    hypotheses

    Hypotheses refers to the three proposed explanations.

  2. Choose the proposed explanation. A proposed explanation that can be tested is a ___. (hypothesis / result)

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    hypothesis

    Hypothesis names the proposed explanation, not the outcome.

  3. Choose the verb form. The new data may ___ the hypothesis. (support / supports)

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    support

    After may, support takes its base form.

Use it today

Suggest an explanation for a change you observed and say how you could test it.