infer

infer — verb

1. to reach a conclusion about something based on the information or signs you noti

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to reach a conclusion about something based on the information or signs you notice — for example, inferring from a wet umbrella that it is raining outside

Example

From the muddy footprints on the kitchen floor, Indra inferred that someone had come in through the back door.

infer + that-clause with evidence from context

Looking at the dark clouds, Kabir inferred that a heavy storm was approaching.

Common collocations
  • infer from evidence
  • infer from the fact that
  • reasonably infer
  • safely infer
  • infer from context
Synonyms
  • deduce

    more systematic and logical; suggests a step-by-step reasoning process

  • conclude

    more final and definite; implies all information has been considered

  • gather

    less formal and more tentative; used in everyday conversation

  • surmise

    more formal and literary; suggests a guess with less solid evidence

Antonyms
  • doubt

    the opposite of reaching a conclusion; implies uncertainty

Grammar Patterns

infer + that-clause

infer + noun phrase

infer + from + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently followed by a that-clause rather than a simple noun phrase. The source of the information is introduced by 'from'. In everyday speech, 'gather' and 'figure' are common informal alternatives.

Common Mistakes

Are you inferring that I am lying?
Are you implying that I am lying?
'imply' means to suggest indirectly (the speaker does it); 'infer' means to draw a conclusion (the listener does it).
I inferred him to be the owner.
I inferred that he was the owner.
'infer' cannot be followed by an object + infinitive; use a that-clause instead.

2. to reach a conclusion by applying logical reasoning to known facts, premises, or

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to reach a conclusion by applying logical reasoning to known facts, premises, or established principles — for example, inferring a mathematical proof from a set of axioms

Example

Hari inferred from the soil samples and fossil records that the region was once covered by a vast ocean.

infer + from + noun phrase + that-clause

From the data collected over six months, the research team inferred a clear pattern of seasonal migration.

infer + noun phrase + from data

Common collocations
  • infer by deduction
  • infer logically
  • infer from premises
  • infer deductively
Synonyms
  • deduce

    nearly interchangeable; often preferred in formal logic and mathematics

  • reason

    emphasizes the process of thinking step by step rather than the conclusion

  • derive

    suggests obtaining a result by following a formal procedure

Antonyms
  • guess

    opposite of reasoned conclusion; done without evidence or systematic thinking

Grammar Patterns

infer + that-clause

infer + noun phrase + from + noun phrase

Usage Note

Common in academic, scientific, and philosophical writing where the reasoning process is explicit. Unlike sense 1 (DRAW CONCLUSION), the conclusion in this sense is not a tentative guess but is logically derived from stated facts or premises.

Common Mistakes

The scientist inferred that the hypothesis must be correct because it fit the data well.' (wordy)
The scientist inferred from the data that the hypothesis was correct.
place the source of reasoning right after the verb for clarity.

Word family

  • inference
    nounB2
  • inferential
    adjectiveC1
  • inferable
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Infer and deduce are the closest — both mean reaching a conclusion from evidence, but deduce suggests a more logical, step-by-step process, while infer can be more tentative or intuitive. Conclude implies a firmer, more final judgment reached after considering all available information (e.g., 'The committee concluded that the proposal should be rejected'). Gather is less formal and suggests picking up bits of information passively without systematic reasoning ('I gather you are not interested'). Surmise is formal and literary, suggesting a guess based on incomplete evidence ('He surmised that she had left the country'). Use infer when drawing a conclusion from specific clues or information; use conclude when the judgment feels definitive and deliberate.

deduce ↗conclude ↗gather ↗surmise

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • infer that...
  • infer from...that...
  • it can be inferred that...

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Comes from Latin 'inferre' — 'in-' (into) plus 'ferre' (to bring, carry). The original meaning was 'to bring in' or 'to carry into'. Over time it took on the sense of 'to bring in as a conclusion' — that is, to carry the facts into your mind and arrive at a new understanding from them.