HOW TO PRONOUNCE
theory
/ˈθɪɹi/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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Stress the first syllable.
Begin with the unvoiced th in thin. The middle can be fuller or compressed, giving two or three syllables.
2 syllables · Stress on syllable 1
Also listed with 3 syllables.
TRY SAYING
“The chapter introduces a new theory.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗What does theory mean?
noun
- A description of an event or system that is considered to be accurate.
- A coherent statement or set of ideas that explains observed facts or phenomena and correctly predicts new facts or phenomena not previously observed, or which sets out the laws and principles of something known or observed; a hypothesis confirmed by observation, experiment etc.
- The underlying principles or methods of a given technical skill, art etc., as opposed to its practice.
More meanings (5)
noun
- A field of study attempting to exhaustively describe a particular class of constructs.
- A set of axioms together with all statements derivable from them; or, a set of statements which are deductively closed. Equivalently, a formal language plus a set of axioms (from which can then be derived theorems). The statements may be required to all be bound (i.e., to have no free variables).
- The standardization and study of fixed sequences of moves, especially in the opening phase of a game.
- (informal) A hypothesis or conjecture.
- (obsolete) Mental conception; reflection, consideration.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈθɪɹi/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
This is one of those refinements which, in practice, has an effect the reverse of what is expected from it in theory.
Again I remembered the claims made by the advocates of “sports,” and again replied guardedly that that was, in part, the theory.
More book examples (3)
I must here speak by theory alone, saying not that which I know, but that which I suppose to be most probable.
The theory that Angela hated him had evaporated in her presence, and another of a very different sort had sprung into being.
Unfortunately the theory of markets, like that of emigration with which they attempted to meet Malthus, is a begging of the question.