Infer vs Imply | Difference, Definitions & Examples
Infer and imply are commonly confused words that have almost opposite meanings.
- Imply is a verb that means “to suggest without directly stating.”
- Infer is a verb that means “to make a conclusion based on evidence rather than direct statements.”
“Imply” and “infer” are not interchangeable. Rather, they’re two different steps in a communication process. First, a speaker or writer implies an idea (without directly stating it). Then, the person listening or reading infers the idea from the evidence (rather than a direct statement).
| Imply in a sentence examples | Infer in a sentence examples |
|---|---|
| The author describes Damon’s drawings to imply that he’s a gifted artist. | Through the descriptions of Damon’s beautiful drawings, readers can infer that he’s a gifted artist. |
| The instructor implied that we’ll have a quiz on Friday. | When the instructor told me to review my notes carefully, I inferred that we might have a quiz. |
What does imply mean?
“Imply” refers to the act of giving information without stating it directly.
The noun that implies information can be a human (e.g., a writer, speaker, filmmaker, or reporter), a text (e.g., a book, film, movie, or article), or a situation (e.g., gray clouds that imply a storm is coming).
Because it’s a transitive verb, “imply” takes a direct object. The direct object in sentences with “imply” is an idea, often phrased as a noun clause that begins with “that.”
The authors imply that children need more free time.
The neighbors implied that they might move when they said they needed a bigger house.
What does infer mean?
“Infer” means “to make a guess or a conclusion based on evidence.”
The subject that takes the verb “infer” is a person who’s receiving the information.
The transitive verb “infer” takes a direct object, which is usually a noun clause that begins with “that.”
We can infer from Charlie’s suggestion to carpool that parking spaces are limited.
Shirley said that she loves cleaning, but I inferred that she was joking.
Inferred vs implied
Inferred and implied are also commonly confused, but they have different meanings.
“Inferred” is the simple past tense form of the verb “infer” and means “guessed” or “concluded.” As the past tense form of “imply,” “implied” means “hinted” or “suggested.”
Both words can also be past participles, which are used in three ways: to form the passive voice, in perfect verb tenses, and as adjectives to modify nouns.
As adjectives, “implied” and “inferred” both modify nouns such as “suggestion,” “message,” or “meaning.” However, “implied” refers to the person speaking or writing whereas “inferred” refers to the person reading or listening. The past participle “inferred” is rarely used as an adjective.
Although everyone in the class read the same article, the inferred meaning varied by student.
Frequently asked questions about infer vs imply
- What is an example of imply in a sentence?
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Imply is a verb that means to “hint” or “suggest without stating directly” (e.g., “The restaurant advertisements imply that the menu is kid friendly”).
“Imply” is often confused with the verb “infer.” However, these words cannot be used interchangeably. If you’re unsure about whether to use imply or infer, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid mistakes.
- What is an example of infer in a sentence?
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Infer is a verb that means to “make a conclusion based on indirect evidence” (e.g., “Since the clouds are getting darker, we can infer that rain is coming”).
“Infer” is often confused with the verb “imply.” However, these words cannot be used interchangeably. If you’re unsure about whether to use infer or imply, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid mistakes.
- What is a synonym for imply?
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Imply is a verb that means “to express an idea without directly stating it.” Synonyms for “imply” include:
- Suggest
- Hint
- Indicate
If you need help rewriting sentences with imply, QuillBot’s free Paraphrasing Tool can help.
- What is a synonym for infer?
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Infer is a verb that means “to make a conclusion based on indirect evidence.” Synonyms for “infer” include the following:
- Conclude
- Guess
- Speculate
If you need help rewriting sentences with infer, QuillBot’s free Paraphrasing Tool can help.
