imply vs infer
Imply and infer sit at opposite ends of the same exchange. To imply is to suggest something without saying it outright — the sender's job. To infer is to work something out from evidence — the receiver's job. A writer implies; a reader infers.
The difference
- imply (verb) — to suggest something indirectly, without stating it
- infer (verb) — to reach a conclusion from evidence or reasoning
Examples
- Her tone implied that the meeting was over.
- From her tone, I inferred that the meeting was over.
How to remember
The person sending the message implies; the person receiving it infers.
The common trap
Saying 'are you inferring that…' when you mean 'are you implying that…'.
These distinctions are exactly what Word Meaning and Contextual Word Choice questions test. Read the Word Meaning guide or Contextual Word Choice guide, then practise the drill.