Imply vs infer
The speaker implies, and the listener infers. To imply is to suggest something without saying it, and to infer is to work it out from clues.
Infer has the f of figure out. To imply is to hint.
imply verb
To suggest something without saying it openly.
- Are you implying that I lied?
- Her smile implied that she already knew the answer.
infer verb
To work out an idea from clues or evidence, instead of being told it directly.
- From his yawns, I inferred that he was tired.
- Scientists infer the age of distant stars from the light they give off.
Watch out
- Some people use infer to mean imply. This use is old, but many people see it as a mistake and usage guides advise against it. In careful writing, use imply for hinting.Her silence implied that she disagreed with the plan.
- Facts and data can imply something too. Here imply means they point to a conclusion.The data imply a strong link between diet and health.
Test yourself
What are you trying to blank? Just say it openly.
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imply. The person being asked is hinting at something without saying it openly, so they imply it.
From the dark clouds, we could blank that rain was coming.
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infer. We worked it out from clues, so we infer it.
His short reply seemed to blank that he was angry.
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imply. The reply suggests something without stating it. That is imply.
Readers can blank the ending from clues in the first chapter.
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infer. The readers figure out the ending from clues, so they infer it.