Infer means to deduce or conclude information based on evidence or reasoning rather than direct statements. It involves drawing logical conclusions from the facts or clues available, often in situations where the answer is not explicitly stated. When you infer something, you make an educated guess based on what you already know or have observed. The term is widely used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions, reading comprehension, and logical reasoning. In Indonesian, infer can be translated as “menyimpulkan” or “mengambil kesimpulan.”
Some synonyms for infer include: deduce, conclude, reason, derive, gather, assume, understand, interpret, surmise, and speculate.
Example Sentences Using Infer:
- From her nervous behavior, I could infer that she wasn’t ready for the presentation.
- Based on the evidence provided, we can infer that the suspect was at the scene of the crime.
- I inferred that he was upset because of his tone of voice and body language.
- You can infer the meaning of the word from the context in which it is used.
- It’s difficult to infer his opinion without asking him directly.
- I infer from his silence that he might not agree with our plan.
- She inferred that he was joking by the way he smiled after making the comment.
- From the way the clouds looked, we could infer that a storm was coming.
- The report doesn’t directly mention the problem, but we can infer from the data that it exists.
- From the expressions on their faces, we can infer that they were pleased with the results.
Related Words:
- Deduce
- Conclude
- Surmise
- Assume
- Interpret
- Gather
- Reason
- Derive
- Speculate
- Understand
Phrasal Verbs Related to Infer:
- Read between the lines (to infer something that isn’t directly stated)
- Pick up on (to notice or infer something subtle)
- Figure out (to infer or solve something based on available information)
- Make out (to infer or understand something unclear)
- Sum up (to infer or conclude something based on evidence)
Idiomatic Expressions Related to Infer:
- Put two and two together (to infer or deduce something from available clues)
- Connect the dots (to make sense of disparate pieces of information and infer a conclusion)
- Take a guess (to infer or hypothesize something, often without full knowledge)
- Get the gist (to infer the general meaning or essence of something, even if all details aren’t clear)
- Read the tea leaves (to infer or predict an outcome from subtle hints or signs)
- Have a hunch (to infer or feel something intuitively, even without direct evidence)
- Make an educated guess (to infer something based on reasoning or available knowledge)
- Draw a conclusion (to infer or come to a decision based on facts or reasoning)
- Take something at face value (to not infer beyond what is explicitly stated)
- See the writing on the wall (to infer that something negative or significant is about to happen based on signs)
The ability to infer is essential for critical thinking, reading comprehension, and effective communication. By drawing conclusions based on indirect evidence, we can often gain insights and make decisions without having all the information laid out for us directly.
