infer

UK/ɪnˈfɜː//ɪnˈfɝ/

infer verb: to introduce (something) as a reasoned conclusion; to conclude by reasoning or deduction, as from premises or evidence.

Verb

infer (third-person singular simple present infers, present participle inferring, simple past and past participle inferred)

(transitive) To introduce (something) as a reasoned conclusion; to conclude by reasoning or deduction, as from premises or evidence.
- It is dangerous to infer too much from martial bluster in British politics: at the first hint of trouble, channelling Churchill is a default tactic for beleaguered leaders of all sorts.2010 October 7, “Keep calm, but don't carry on”, in The Economist
Synonyms:

conclude, deduce, educe, construe
(often, proscribed, transitive) To lead to (something) as a consequence; to imply.
- a. 1535, Thomas More, letter to Fryth
  the fyrste parte is not the proofe of the second. but rather contrarywyse the seconde inferreth well yͤ fyrst.
- This doth infer the zeal I had to see him.c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […]...
Synonyms:

imply, suggest, entail
(obsolete) To cause, inflict (something) upon or to someone.
- faire Serena[…]fled fast away, afeard / Of villany to be to her inferd[…].1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC
(obsolete) To introduce (a subject) in speaking, writing etc.; to bring in, to adduce.
- Full well hath Clifford played the orator, / Inferring arguments of mighty force.c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard...

infer meaning in Tamil, Marathi, Urdu and Bengali

infer in Marathi

to infer, reason, deduce: अनुमानणे anumānṇe

infer in Bengali

অনুমান করা, সিদ্ধান্ত নেওয়া, অর্থ বের করা

More languagesFewer languages

infer in Malayalam: അനുമാനിക്കുക, കാരണങ്ങളെക്കൊണ്ട് ഊഹിക്കുക, തെളിയിക്കുക
infer in Kannada: ಊಹಿಸು, ಅನುಮಾನಿಸು, ತರ್ಕಿಸು, ತೀರ್ಮಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಬರು
infer in Odia: ମଣିବା maṇibā, ଘେନିବା ghenibā
infer in Thai: อนุมาน

Examples of infer in a sentence

I don't think you can infer that from the premise. It's a faulty argument.
He bumptiously introduced himself and subsequently inferred himself as the topic of conversation.
A polygon was superimposed on the inferred fault network.

All 40 example sentences with infer

Synonyms of infer

All synonyms of infer

Forms of infer

third-person singular present	infers
present participle	inferring
past participle	inferred
past	inferred

Past tense of infer: inferred

Origin of infer

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.

Words formed from infer

Words that rhyme with infer

48 more rhymesFewer rhymes

Questions about infer

What does infer mean?: Infer means to introduce (something) as a reasoned conclusion; to conclude by reasoning or deduction, as from premises or evidence.
What is infer in Tamil?: Infer in Tamil is உய்த்துணர், முடிவு செய், யூகி. See Infer meaning in Tamil.
What part of speech is infer?: Infer is a verb.
How do you pronounce infer?: Infer is pronounced /ɪnˈfɜː/ (UK).
What is the past tense of infer?: The past tense of infer is inferred.

Words near infer in the dictionary

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: en-us-infer.ogg.

Cite this entry: “infer.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/infer. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.