Words / B2

di-DYOOS/dɪˈdjuːs/

To deduce is to reach a conclusion from the clues you have — Sherlock Holmes territory, but also lab reports. Infer is very close (the reader infers; a text may imply). Guess is weaker and does not need evidence. Pattern: deduce that + clause, deduce something from the data. Deduction is the noun; it is slightly formal in speech (I worked out is everyday).

Meaning

To reach a conclusion from the facts you have.

Examples

• “From the wet streets I deduced that it had rained.”
• “From the empty shelves we deduced that the delivery had failed.”
• “You can deduce the meaning from the next sentence.”

Good to know

deduce that / deduce from. Close: infer. Everyday: work out. Noun: deduction.

Near in meaning

infer

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