Cool MateFind out vs Guess what
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Find out
Top 1,000 (very common)
Guess what
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Find outMost common: Find out
| Find out | Guess what | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //faɪnd aʊt//🇺🇸 //faɪnd aʊt// | 🇬🇧 //ɡɛs wɒt//🇺🇸 //ɡɛs wɑt// |
| Meaning | To learn something that was not known before. | A phrase to ask someone to figure something out. |
| Example | I need to find out where he went last night. | Guess what! I got the job I applied for! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | find out information, find out the truth, find out more, find out details, find out what | guess what happened, guess what I found, guess what she said |
| Antonyms | - | ignore, know for certain, disregard |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'figure out' - they have different nuances., Incorrect use of tenses - remember to match past and present., Using 'find out' without an object - it should always be followed by something. | Using it in formal situations., Forgetting to follow up with the surprise., Omitting 'what' and saying just 'guess'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'find out' when you discover new information. It is suitable in both formal and informal contexts. | Used to introduce surprising or interesting news. Avoid in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Find out vs Guess what
What's the difference between Find out and Guess what?
Find out: To learn something that was not known before. Guess what: A phrase to ask someone to figure something out.
Which is more formal: Find out and Guess what?
Find out is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Find out and Guess what?
Find out is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Find out: I need to find out where he went last night. Guess what: Guess what! I got the job I applied for!
Can I use Find out and Guess what interchangeably?
Not always. Find out and Guess what are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.