INFER
Word of the Week
INFER
in·fer
verb \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>
— in·fer·able also in·fer·ri·ble \in-ˈfər-ə-bəl\ adjective
— in·fer·rer \-ˈfər-ər\ noun
Related to INFER
Synonyms:
conclude, decide, deduce, derive, extrapolate, gather, judge, make out, reason, understand, draw a conclusion
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
Examples of INFER
1. It's difficult to infer how these changes will affect ordinary citizens.
2. Are you inferring that I'm wrong?
3. 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
4. … I infer that Swinburne found an adequate outlet for the creative impulse in his poetry … —T. S. Eliot, The Sacred Wood, 1920
5. Lucy … reseated herself with an alacrity and cheerfulness which seemed to infer that she could taste no greater delight … —Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, 1811