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View synonyms for infer

infer

[ in-fur ]

verb (used with object)

, in·ferred, in·fer·ring.
  1. to derive by reasoning; conclude or judge from premises or evidence:

    They inferred his displeasure from his cool tone of voice.

    Synonyms: suppose, conjecture, imagine, reason, deduce

  2. (of facts, circumstances, statements, etc.) to indicate or involve as a conclusion; lead to.
  3. to guess; speculate; surmise.
  4. to hint; imply; suggest.


verb (used without object)

, in·ferred, in·fer·ring.
  1. to draw a conclusion, as by reasoning.

infer

/ ɪnˈfɜː /

verb

  1. to conclude (a state of affairs, supposition, etc) by reasoning from evidence; deduce
  2. tr to have or lead to as a necessary or logical consequence; indicate
  3. tr to hint or imply


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Usage Note

Infer has been used to mean “to hint or suggest” since the 16th century by speakers and writers of unquestioned ability and eminence: The next speaker criticized the proposal, inferring that it was made solely to embarrass the government. Despite its long history, many usage guides condemn the use, maintaining that the proper word for the intended sense is imply and that to use infer is to lose a valuable distinction between the two words. Although the claimed distinction has probably existed chiefly in the pronouncements of usage guides, and although the use of infer to mean “to suggest” usually produces no ambiguity, the distinction too has a long history and is widely observed by many speakers and writers.

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Usage

The use of infer to mean imply is becoming more and more common in both speech and writing. There is nevertheless a useful distinction between the two which many people would be in favour of maintaining. To infer means `to deduce', and is used in the construction to infer something from something : I inferred from what she said that she had not been well . To imply (sense 1) means `to suggest, to insinuate' and is normally followed by a clause: are you implying that I was responsible for the mistake?

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Derived Forms

  • inˈferrer, noun
  • inˈferably, adverb
  • inˈferable, adjective

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Other Words From

  • in·fer·a·ble in·fer·ra·ble adjective
  • in·fer·a·bly adverb
  • in·fer·rer noun
  • mis·in·fer verb misinferred misinferring
  • non·in·fer·a·ble adjective
  • non·in·fer·a·bly adverb
  • sub·in·fer verb subinferred subinferring
  • un·in·fer·a·ble adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of infer1

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin inferre, equivalent to in- + ferre “to bring, carry, bear”; in- 2, bear 1

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Word History and Origins

Origin of infer1

C16: from Latin inferre to bring into, from ferre to bear, carry

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Example Sentences

And more I cannot explain/but you, from what I did not say/will infer what I do not say.

Therefore, we can at least infer that the people of Saint-Jean-des-Vignes did not have a rigorous eugenics program like Sparta.

I would tend to infer that I guess he is, however reluctantly.

Some people chose to infer that we believed humans to be feeble-minded, which we never did.

I infer from this that Dan Kois is not afflicted with lower back trouble.

We should infer also from some of the early stage plays, that the "players" used the weed even when acting their parts.

From this place some commentators infer that this king became a true convert, and dying not long after, was probably saved.

We must not, however, infer that there was a large Egyptian element in the Canaanitish Pantheon.

We infer from his writings that his age was degenerate and corrupt, but, as we have already said, his reproofs were gentle.

We are left to infer that only thirteen out of 224 parishes were in such a state as the Bishop could approve.

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