Infer
verb /ɪnˈfɜː/ — To reach a conclusion from clues, not direct statements.
Definition
To deduce or conclude something from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements.
Beyond the definition
Inference is what good readers, listeners, and thinkers do — they don't wait to be told everything directly. They read between the lines. When you infer, you're connecting dots that weren't connected for you.
Origin & history
From Latin inferre — to bring in, to introduce (in- 'into' + ferre 'to bring'). Bringing information to a conclusion.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
From her silence, he inferred she disagreed but didn't want to say so.
You can infer a lot about a company from how they treat candidates during interviews.
The report doesn't state it directly, but you can infer that costs will increase.
How to use it
This entry uses a verb. Follow the examples for tense and any objects or prepositions it needs.
Choose “Infer” when the meaning fits your context: To deduce or conclude something from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements.
Synonyms
deduce, conclude, read, gather, interpret
Antonyms
state directly, assert explicitly
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Archaeologist Studying Ancient Traces
An archaeologist compares a spiral-carved seal, a geometric tablet, and a clay pot under candlelight, concentrating on a mystery.
The archaeologist is using reasoning and evidence to infer the meaning of the objects. Because there is no legible writing, they are deducing the nature of the mystery through their examination of the physical traces rather than by explicit statements.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Infer" mean?
Infer is verb meaning: To reach a conclusion from clues, not direct statements.. To deduce or conclude something from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements.
Where does the word "Infer" come from?
From Latin inferre — to bring in, to introduce (in- 'into' + ferre 'to bring'). Bringing information to a conclusion.