Word
infer
Meanings
to conclude something from evidence or clues rather than from direct statement
to understand the implied meaning of words, actions, or situations
Definition
Infer means to form an idea or conclusion based on evidence and reasoning rather than being told directly.
To infer is to figure out something indirectly by using clues, facts, or what you observe. You make a logical conclusion even if no one states it clearly. People often infer meaning from tone of voice, context, or results.
Examples
- From her smile, I could infer that the news was good.
- We can infer the answer from the data in the report.
- He tried to infer what she meant by her silence.
- The police inferred that the window was broken from the inside.