What does infer mean?
Word: Infer
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Infer means to work something out from clues or facts, when nobody has told you directly.
Synonyms: conclude, gather, reason, work out
How do you spell infer?
Syllables: in - fer
Tricky part: Infer has a single r. When you add -ed or -ing, the r doubles because the stress is on the end of the word: inferred, inferring.
Watch out for: inferr, infere
Memory tip: Say inferred aloud: the beat lands on the end, so the r doubles before -ed, as it does in referred.
Infer in a sentence
Example 1: From the empty plate and the crumbs, Mummy could infer who had eaten the last laddoo.
Example 2: What can you infer about the character from the way she speaks?
Example 3: Scientists infer the age of a tree by counting the rings in its trunk.
Fun Fact
Infer comes from the Latin inferre, to bring in, made of in and ferre, meaning to carry.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
From the dark clouds gathering over the hills, we can ________ that it will rain soon.
a) insist
b) inform
c) imply
d) infer
Show answer
d) infer. We are working something out from clues, so we infer; a speaker would imply.
Sound Check
Which word does not rhyme with the given word?
infer
a) occur
b) deter
c) prefer
d) differ
Show answer
d) differ. Differ is stressed at the start, DIF-fer, so its ending is weak and does not match in-FER.
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
inf_r
a) i
b) u
c) a
d) e
Show answer
d) e. Infer has an e before the r, as in the fer of offer.
Word Fusion
Which two options complete the word?
____ fer ____ 1. in 2. ex 3. ence 4. ment 5. pro 6. ful
a) 1 and 3
b) 2 and 4
c) 1 and 4
d) 5 and 6
Show answer
a) 1 and 3. In + fer + ence builds inference, the noun for something you have worked out.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Your friend keeps yawning all through the lesson. What can you infer?
a) She is excited.
b) She is late.
c) She is sleepy.
d) She is angry.
Show answer
c) She is sleepy.
2. Pick the word that has almost the same meaning as infer.
a) deny
b) deduce
c) delay
d) decorate
Show answer
b) deduce
