infer

Meaning

1. (transitive) To introduce (something) as a reasoned conclusion; to conclude by reasoning or deduction, as from premises or evidence.
2. (often, proscribed, transitive) To lead to (something) as a consequence; to imply.
3. (obsolete) To cause, inflict (something) upon or to someone.
4. (obsolete) To introduce (a subject) in speaking, writing etc.; to bring in, to adduce.

Synonyms

deduce

conclude

guess

conjecture

gather

derive

induce

deduct

suppose

reason

abstract

surmise

presume

judge

🧑‍⚖️

find

🔍

believe

understand

extrapolate

imply

draw

predict

construe

assume

compute

support

generalize

inference

calculate

generalise

think

🤔

fathom

figure out

go

guesstimate

head

hint

lead

listen

manage

mean

meditate

operate

opine

pick

⛏️

pick up

reckon

reflect

regard

relate

result

Translations

dedurre

déduire

inferir

conclure

folgern

schließen

συμπεραίνω

concluderen

deducir

inferire

besluiten

inferir

afleiden

concludere

concluir

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪnˈfɜː/

Etymology

Cognate with Old English: beran

In summary

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.