verb
infer
ihn-FUR
verb
1
To work out or conclude something based on evidence or reasoning, rather than being told directly.
"From her tone, I inferred that she wasn't happy with the decision."
"Scientists inferred the planet's size from its gravitational pull."
How to Use Infer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo figure something out yourself from clues, rather than being told it outright.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with imply: a speaker implies something (hints at it), while the listener infers it (works it out). "He implied she was lying" vs "I inferred he was joking."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
infer from
can be inferred
Word Forms
inferred past tense, infers singular
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Etymology
From Latin inferō, "to carry in, bring about" — in- + ferō, "to carry," related to English bear.