Words / B2

in-FUR/ɪnˈfɜː/

To infer is to reach a conclusion from clues, not from a direct statement: you infer from evidence / from her tone that… The writer implies; the reader infers — do not swap them. Inference is the noun (draw an inference); deduce is close, often more logical, while guess is weaker and less reasoned.

Meaning

To decide that something is true from the information you have, not from a direct statement.

Examples

• “From her tone I inferred that she was angry.”
• “From the empty chairs we inferred that the talk had been cancelled.”
• “What can we infer about the author's attitude?”

Good to know

infer from + evidence. Listener/reader infers; speaker/writer implies. Noun: inference.

Near in meaning

deduce

New