infer
/ɪnˈfɜːr/To reach a conclusion by thinking carefully about evidence or clues. You are not told the answer directly — you work it out from what you observe or read.
- From his hesitation, she inferred that he was hiding something.
- We can infer from the data that sales are improving.
- Readers often infer meaning from context when a word is unfamiliar.
Adinary Nuance
The most critical near-neighbor distinction is between 'infer' and 'imply' — they travel in opposite directions. A speaker or writer implies something (they hint at it); a listener or reader infers something (they pick up that hint). Also compare 'deduce': 'deduce' suggests a formal, step-by-step logical process (as a detective would use), while 'infer' is broader and suits everyday academic writing. 'Assume,' by contrast, requires no evidence at all — you simply take something for granted, making it the weakest of the three.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Suy luận
- Spanish
- Inferir
- Chinese
- 推断
- Japanese
- 推論する
- Korean
- 추론하다
Etymology
From Latin 'inferre', meaning 'to bring in' or 'carry forward', formed from 'in-' (into) and 'ferre' (to carry). It entered English in the late 15th century through scholarly Latin writing.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between 'infer' and 'imply'?
- 'Imply' is what a speaker or writer does — they hint at something without saying it directly. 'Infer' is what the listener or reader does — they figure out that hidden meaning. The speaker implies; the listener infers. The direction is always opposite.
- Is 'infer' a formal word? Can I use it in IELTS writing?
- Yes, 'infer' is a standard academic word and appears frequently in IELTS Reading and Writing tasks. Phrases like 'it can be inferred that...' are especially useful in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 when describing charts or graphs.
- Can 'infer' and 'assume' be used interchangeably?
- No. When you infer, you base your conclusion on evidence or reasoning. When you assume, you accept something as true without needing any evidence. 'Infer' is more analytical and carries more weight in academic writing.
- What is the noun form of 'infer'?
- The noun form is 'inference.' For example: 'Her inference was based on careful observation of the results.' The adjective form is 'inferential,' though this is less common in everyday use.