Infer (Verb)
Meaning 1
Reason by deduction; establish by deduction.
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- The police were able to infer the suspect's identity by analyzing the evidence collected from the crime scene.
- Her disappearance and the torn ticket in her bag led me to infer that she might have gotten on the flight to Paris after all.
- The fact that the store is boarded up and the furniture is gone allows us to infer that it has closed permanently.
- From the engine's symptoms, the mechanic was able to infer that the problem lay with the faulty timing belt.
- Based on the responses to the survey, researchers were able to infer that a significant portion of the population opposes the proposed tax increase.
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Meaning 2
Guess correctly; solve by guessing; "He guessed the right number of beans in the jar and won the prize".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- She managed to infer the correct answer to the trivia question by eliminating the other options.
- The detective was able to infer the identity of the suspect from the subtle clues at the crime scene.
- He guessed the right number of candy pieces and won the prize, allowing him to infer that his guess was reasonably close to correct.
- The famous mathematician was able to infer the solution to the complex equation by applying logical principles and deductive reasoning.
- The contestant on the game show was able to infer the correct location from the mysterious map.
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Meaning 3
Draw from specific cases for more general cases.
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- From the fact that it rained every day last week in London, we can infer that the city often experiences wet weather.
- The numerous failed attempts to grow certain plants in this region suggest we can infer that the soil lacks essential nutrients.
- The several reports of successful application of this business strategy in various small startups might allow us to infer its potential effectiveness for other young companies.
- The low test scores of these students indicate they have yet to grasp the fundamental concepts of the subject, so we can infer the teaching method requires adjustment.
- After noticing numerous studies concluding that regular exercise helps maintain a healthy heart, it is possible to infer that adopting an active lifestyle has cardiovascular benefits overall.
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Meaning 4
Believe to be the case; "I understand you have no previous experience?".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- From your tone I infer that you're not pleased with the decision.
- I infer that you've had some formal training in the field, given your confidence.
- Can I infer that you're looking to start immediately, or do you have some other plan in mind.
- I infer that you're not familiar with the local market, given your hesitation to answer.
- I infer that you're not interested in further education, or is that something you're open to discussing.
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Meaning 5
Conclude by reasoning; in logic.
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- From the data, we can infer that there is a significant correlation between exercise and improved mental health.
- It can be inferred from Einstein's theory of relativity that time is relative and depends on the observer's frame of reference.
- Given the lack of evidence, the detective could not infer who the prime suspect was in the murder investigation.
- People often infer a person's social status based on their appearance and attire.
- By analyzing the trends in consumer behavior, we can infer that the company's new product will be successful in the market.