as in hypothesis
an idea that is the starting point for making a case or conducting an investigation
set out to prove her theory that people can't really taste any difference between colas, so they buy according to the product's image
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Recent Examples of theory
In the 19th century, the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace devised his own theory of evolution, independent of Charles Darwin, while visiting the region to research his book, The Malay Archipelago.
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Gisela Williams, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2026
Experts say there's no solid evidence to prove the theory, but the fiber in carrots could help ease heartburn by supporting digestion.
—Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 8 Jan. 2026
My partner has developed his own theory.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
Fossils discovered in Morocco dating back more than 773,000 years bolster the theory that Homo sapiens originally appeared in Africa, scientists said in a study Wednesday.
—CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theory
Noun
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The story of the Platonic representation hypothesis paper began in early 2023, a turbulent time for AI researchers.—
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Furthermore, Jie said that laboratory simulations support the hypothesis that the majority of the surface regolith inside Shackleton Crater is conducive to the stable preservation of water ice.—
Noun
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The designer wrote his master’s thesis on wearables, foreseeing how smart clothing and other technologies could become part of daily life even before wireless technologies like Wifi and Bluetooth were standard.—
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First is that the upbeat thesis is fully rational and plausible.—
Cite this Entry
“Theory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theory. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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