Word
infer
Phoneticsin·fer, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈfɝ/
UK/ɪnfˈɜː/
Definition
v. to reach a conclusion based on the information you have, even if it is not stated directly. You use this when you read between the lines to understand a hidden meaning.
v. to deduce or conclude information from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements. Transitive; requires a direct object or a 'that' clause.
Examples
“I can infer from your silence that you are unhappy.”
“Readers must often infer the character's true motivations by observing their actions rather than listening to their dialogue.”
“While the report never explicitly blames the management, one can easily infer a lack of oversight from the detailed timeline of the financial discrepancies.”
Examples
simple
“I can infer from your silence that you are unhappy.”
contextual
“Readers must often infer the character's true motivations by observing their actions rather than listening to their dialogue.”
complex
“While the report never explicitly blames the management, one can easily infer a lack of oversight from the detailed timeline of the financial discrepancies.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “infer” in context.
Verb
01. be able to infer
“From the data provided, researchers were able to infer a significant trend in consumer behavior.”
verb + infinitive
02. infer from the context
“Even if you don't know the word, you can often infer its meaning from the context.”
verb + prep + noun
03. infer that the meeting was cancelled
“When nobody showed up at the office, I inferred that the meeting was cancelled.”
verb + that-clause
Adverb
04. correctly infer the meaning
“She correctly inferred the meaning of his silence as a sign of disapproval.”
adv + verb + noun
05. logically infer
“We can logically infer that the project will fail if we do not secure more funding.”
adv + verb
06. reasonably infer from the evidence
“The jury could reasonably infer from the evidence that the defendant was at the scene.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
Usage
The verb is transitive and often takes a 'that' clause or a direct object.
Pitfall
The speaker inferred that the plan would fail.
The speaker implied that the plan would fail.
Learners often confuse 'infer' with 'implied'. The speaker implies (suggests); the listener infers (deduces).
Confusables
Imply is the act of sending a hidden message; infer is the act of decoding it.
RememberImply = Sender. Infer = Receiver.
Real-World Examples
“When introduced with context, a new word or idea might not be immediately clear, but the child can notice and infer.” “Once a spear phisher infers a user's relationships on Yelp, they can send scam texts or emails to that person's friends, Leng says.” Etymology
From Latin inferō, from Latin in- (“in, at, on; into”) + Latin ferō (“bear, carry; suffer”) (cognate to Old English beran, whence English bear), from Proto-Italic ferō, from Proto-Indo-European bʰéreti (“to bear, carry”), from the root *bʰer-. Literally “carry forward”, equivalent to “bear in”, as in concluding from a premise. Doublet of inbear.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/infer