To infer means to figure something out using clues and reasoning, even though no one directly told you. When you infer, you're like a detective piecing together evidence to reach a conclusion.

If you walk into the kitchen and see flour on the counter, mixing bowls in the sink, and your mom wearing an apron, you might infer that she's been baking, even though she hasn't said a word about it. The clues point to that conclusion. When you read a story where a character slumps in their chair, stares out the window, and sighs heavily, you can infer they're feeling sad or discouraged, even if the author never uses those exact words.

Scientists infer conclusions from experimental data. Historians infer what life was like in ancient times by studying artifacts and ruins. You can infer your friend's mood from their tone of voice and body language.

The noun form is inference: “Based on the tracks in the snow, we made the inference that a deer had crossed the yard.” Good readers constantly make inferences while reading, connecting details to understand deeper meanings. Strong thinkers know that while inferences are educated guesses based on evidence, they're not always correct, which is why detectives keep investigating until they're certain.