Word
extrapolated
Phoneticsex·trap·o·lat·ed, stress on the second syllable
US/ɛkˈstɹæpəˌɫeɪtɪd/
UK/ɛkstɹˈæpəlˌeɪtɪd/
Definition
v. to guess a future number or result by extending a trend you already see. You use this when you have some data and want to predict what comes next.
v. to infer values beyond an observed range by extending an established trend, pattern, or model. Often contrasted with interpolation, which estimates values within the observed range.
Examples
“We extrapolate future sales from last year's numbers.”
“The team extrapolated next quarter's demand from three months of steady growth.”
“From a handful of ice-core measurements, climatologists extrapolated temperature curves spanning millennia, acknowledging that small errors in the baseline could magnify dramatically at scale.”
Examples
simple
“We extrapolate future sales from last year's numbers.”
contextual
“The team extrapolated next quarter's demand from three months of steady growth.”
complex
“From a handful of ice-core measurements, climatologists extrapolated temperature curves spanning millennia, acknowledging that small errors in the baseline could magnify dramatically at scale.”
Usage
Transitive; often followed by 'from' for the source data and 'to' for the projection.
Real-World Examples
“Seven points from six games would constitute comfortable survival if extrapolated over the season as a whole, but Opta’s expected points table, which has Bournemouth ninth and Sunderland 10th, has them 18th.” “Their analysis found a misdiagnoses rate of just over 5 percent, which when extrapolated to the 80 percent of U.S. adults that receive outpatient care every year, comes to 12 million people.” “The researchers then extrapolated the data to come up with national death toll estimates.” Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/extrapolated