INFER
Word of the Week
INFER ( inferir )
verb in·fer \in-ˈfər\
: to form (an opinion) from evidence : to reach (a conclusion) based on known facts
: to hint or suggest (something)
FULL DEFINITION of INFER
transitive verb
1: to derive as a conclusion from facts or premises <we see smoke and infer fire — L. A. White> — compare imply
2: guess, surmise <your letter … allows me to infer that you are as well as ever — O. W. Holmes †1935>
3a : to involve as a normal outcome of thought
b : to point out : indicate <this doth infer the zeal I had to see him — Shakespeare> <another survey…infers that two-thirds of all present computer installations are not paying for themselves — H. R. Chellman>
4: suggest, hint <are you inferring I'm incompetent?>
intransitive verb
: to draw inferences <men … have observed, inferred, and reasoned … to all kinds of results — John Dewey>
EXAMPLES of INFER
- It's difficult to infer how these changes will affect ordinary citizens.
- Are you inferring that I'm wrong?
- May I remark here that although I seem to infer that private communication is an unholy mess of grammatical barbarism, … such is not my intent … —V. Louise Higgins, “Approaching Usage in the Classroom,” English Journal, March 1960
RELATED to INFER
Related Words assume, suppose; conjecture, guess, speculate, surmise; construe, interpret, read; contemplate, philosophize, rationalize, think; ascertain, dope (out), find out
Near Antonyms announce, declare, proclaim; elucidate, explain, spell out; delineate, describe