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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Hypothetical: Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：assumed for reasoning (hypothetical)

hypothetical 🔊

/ˌhaɪ.pəˈθet.ɪ.kəl/

adj.

Describing an idea or situation that is not real but is used for thinking or testing theories.

Hypothetical scenario illustration: teacher discussing an 'if' statement on a classroom whiteboard.

assumed for reasoning 🔊

➕

/əˈsjuːmd fɔː ˈriːzənɪŋ/

adj.

Describing an idea or situation that is not real but is used for thinking or testing theories.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Greek 'hypothesis' (supposition) + '-ical', meaning based on assumption.

💡 Mnemonic

Hypo- (under) + thetical (theory): something under theory, not real.

📖 Example

In our philosophy class, we often discuss hypothetical questions like what makes a life meaningful. 🔊 In philosophy class, we frequently talk about assumed questions such as what gives life meaning.

🔗 Collocations

hypothetical question – A question based on an assumption for discussion

hypothetical scenario – An imagined situation used for analysis

hypothetical situation – A supposed condition for theoretical purposes

🔄 Synonyms

theoretical (adj.) – Based on theory rather than practice

speculative (adj.) – Involving conjecture rather than knowledge

conjectural (adj.) – Depending on guesswork

🚫 Antonyms

actual (adj.) – Existing in fact

real (adj.) – Not imaginary

concrete (adj.) – Specific and tangible

🌱 Derivatives

hypothesis (n.) – A proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence

hypothesize (v.) – To form a hypothesis

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Greek 'hypothetikos', via Latin. Widely used in academic and philosophical contexts to discuss theoretical or unproven ideas.

Meaning 2：imagined for creative purposes (hypothetical)

hypothetical 🔊

/ˌhaɪ.pəˈθet.ɪ.kəl/

adj.

Used to describe something or someone that is imagined and not necessarily real, often for a story or game.

Hypothetical concept art: artist sketching a fantastical, non-existent creature in a creative workspace.

imagined for creative purposes 🔊

➕

/ɪˈmædʒɪnd fɔː kriːˈeɪtɪv ˈpɜːpəsɪz/

adj.

Used to describe something or someone that is imagined and not necessarily real, often for a story or game.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The director asked the actor to imagine a hypothetical alien species with three eyes and a musical language for the sci-fi film. 🔊 The director requested the actor to envision an imagined alien species with three eyes and a musical language for the science fiction film.

🔗 Collocations

hypothetical creature – An imagined animal or being

hypothetical story – A narrative based on imagination

hypothetical character – A fictional persona created for a plot

🔄 Synonyms

imaginary (adj.) – Existing only in the imagination

fictional (adj.) – Invented for a story or film

made-up (adj.) – Fabricated or not real

🚫 Antonyms

real (adj.) – Actually existing

actual (adj.) – Genuine or factual

existing (adj.) – Present in reality