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infer

verb
in·​fer | \ in-ˈfÉ™r How to pronounce infer (audio) \
inferred; inferring

Definition of infer

transitive verb

1 : to derive as a conclusion from facts or premises we see smoke and infer fire— L. A. White — compare imply
2 : guess, surmise your letter … allows me to infer that you are as well as ever— O. W. Holmes †1935
3a : to involve as a normal outcome of thought
b : to point out : indicate this doth infer the zeal I had to see him— William Shakespeare another survey … infers that two-thirds of all present computer installations are not paying for themselves— H. R. Chellman
4 : suggest, hint are you inferring I'm incompetent?

intransitive verb

: to draw inferences men … have observed, inferred, and reasoned … to all kinds of results— John Dewey
Other Words from infer Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Infer vs. Imply: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about infer

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Other Words from infer

inferable or less commonly inferrible \ in-​ˈfÉ™r-​É™-​bÉ™l How to pronounce inferrible (audio) \ adjective
inferrer \ in-​ˈfÉ™r-​É™r How to pronounce inferrer (audio) \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for infer

infer, deduce, conclude, judge, gather mean to arrive at a mental conclusion. infer implies arriving at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence; if the evidence is slight, the term comes close to surmise. from that remark, I inferred that they knew each other deduce often adds to infer the special implication of drawing a particular inference from a generalization. denied we could deduce anything important from human mortality conclude implies arriving at a necessary inference at the end of a chain of reasoning. concluded that only the accused could be guilty judge stresses a weighing of the evidence on which a conclusion is based. judge people by their actions gather suggests an intuitive forming of a conclusion from implications. gathered their desire to be alone without a word

Infer vs. Imply: Usage Guide

Sir Thomas More is the first writer known to have used both infer and imply in their approved senses in 1528 (with infer meaning "to deduce from facts" and imply meaning "to hint at"). He is also the first to have used infer in a sense close in meaning to imply (1533). Both of these uses of infer coexisted without comment until some time around the end of World War I. Since then, the "indicate" and "hint or suggest" meanings of infer have been frequently condemned as an undesirable blurring of a useful distinction. The actual blurring has been done by the commentators. The "indicate" sense of infer, descended from More's use of 1533, does not occur with a personal subject. When objections arose, they were to a use with a personal subject (which is now considered a use of the "suggest, hint" sense of infer). Since dictionaries did not recognize this use specifically, the objectors assumed that the "indicate" sense was the one they found illogical, even though it had been in respectable use for four centuries. The actual usage condemned was a spoken one never used in logical discourse. At present the condemned "suggest, hint" sense is found in print chiefly in letters to the editor and other informal prose, not in serious intellectual writing. The controversy over the "suggest, hint" sense has apparently reduced the frequency with which the "indicate" sense of infer is used.

Examples of infer in a Sentence

May I remark here that although I seem to infer that private communication is an unholy mess of grammatical barbarism,  … such is not my intent … — V. Louise Higgins, "Approaching Usage in the Classroom," English Journal,  March 1960 … I infer that Swinburne found an adequate outlet for the creative impulse in his poetry … — T. S. Eliot, The Sacred Wood, 1920 Lucy … reseated herself with an alacrity and cheerfulness which seemed to infer that she could taste no greater delight … — Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, 1811 It's difficult to infer how these changes will affect ordinary citizens. Are you inferring that I'm wrong?
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Recent Examples on the Web

 This again suggests that the effect comes from the sounds of the names and is not inferred from the personalities of real people. — David Sidhu, Quartz, "How the sound of your name shapes the way people think about you," 19 Aug. 2019 The court of appeal in this case apparently inferred Mederos’s unexercised power to negotiate over the arbitration provision from Gardner’s success in doing so. — Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Why otherwise defective arbitration agreements may be enforced against high-ranking executives," 19 Aug. 2019 In addition to claiming that Nicki refused to shoot a video for the single or post about it on her Instagram page, the person also inferred that Nicki had given preferential treatment to her joint single with Megan Thee Stallion. — Essence, "Trina: 'I Won't Tolerate Any Disrespect For Nicki Minaj Or Anyone Else That's On My Album'," 15 Aug. 2019 The paper inferred that West and East Pakistan had different strategic problems and were separate entities. — Raghvendra Singh, Quartz India, "What Britain gained by partitioning the subcontinent into India and Pakistan," 9 Aug. 2019 That’s inferred, not the work of the author, who takes pains to avoid any hint of partisanship. — James Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, "A fond look back on John Kerry’s tenure as secretary of state," 3 July 2019 Ford has prohibited writing about the 400-hp ST performance model until later, but a reader might infer the difference the 35 extra-hp — a 9.6% for the math-averse — makes. — Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, "2020 Ford Explorer's new RWD changes everything for the better," 18 June 2019 Over the years many have inferred that the Duchess of Cambridge's wardrobe has paid homage to her late mother-in-law, with some instances being more obvious than others. — Glamour, "All the Times Kate Middleton's Fashion Has Reminded Us of Princess Diana," 17 June 2019 The value of the program to courts in Carroll County can only be inferred by the courts continuing to use the program. — Jon Kelvey, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Volunteers can help speak for foster children in court through CASA program," 20 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'infer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of infer

1528, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for infer

Middle French or Latin; Middle French inferer, from Latin inferre, literally, to carry or bring into, from in- + ferre to carry — more at bear

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More Definitions for infer

infer

verb
How to pronounce infer (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of infer

: to form (an opinion) from evidence : to reach (a conclusion) based on known facts
informal : to hint or suggest (something)

See the full definition for infer in the English Language Learners Dictionary

infer

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