Imply vs Infer
Published January 23, 2023. Updated January 23, 2023.
Imply and Infer are two words that sound similar but have somewhat different meanings. Imply is a verb that means “to suggest, indicate, or even state something without explicitly saying it.” On the other hand, infer is a verb that means “to use a variety of information and evidence to draw a conclusion.”
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Imply (verb)
To suggest, indicate, or even state something without explicitly saying it.
Examples:
Her short responses and lack of eye contact implied that she was not in good spirits.
While he did not say it directly, the doctor implied that the diagnosis was quite serious.
When you imply something, you are essentially saying something without actually saying it. This can be done through body language or through indirect statements, all of which are key parts of context that you need to pay attention to when you are using this word.
Infer (verb)
To use a variety of information and evidence to draw a conclusion.
Examples:
Based on the clues, the detective was able to infer a pattern of movement for the criminal.
I could infer that I was not welcomed at the event based on how the crowd reacted upon my arrival.
When you are inferring something, you are essentially making an informed conclusion based on the evidence that is given. You can infer a conclusion based on something that is implied.
Main Points
- Imply refers to when something is implicitly stated.
- Infer refers to when a conclusion is drawn based on given evidence.
- Remember to pay attention to the context of each verb. When you are implying something, you are stating something via context clues. When you are inferring something, you are drawing information from context clues.