SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
infer
verb
To reach a conclusion from evidence or reasoning.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
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Conclude from evidence
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topDeduce is a particular form of reasoning; extrapolate extends a pattern beyond observed data. Infer is broader.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See infer in use
From the empty shelves, she could infer that the sale had been successful.
Rosa also collected quantitative information, including attendance counts and recorded waiting times. She could infer from the notes that some visitors valued personal introductions, but she could not infer everyone's preference from a few comments.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license