Confusable pair · B2
Imply or infer?
The speaker implies; the listener infers. If you suggest something without saying it, you are implying it. If you work something out from what you were told, you are inferring it. The two words describe opposite ends of the same act of communication, which is why swapping them produces a sentence that means the reverse of what you intended.
Which word, and why
- imply
the speaker: puts the meaning in
To suggest something without stating it directly.
imply that · strongly implied · what are you implying?
- infer
the listener: takes the meaning out
To work something out from evidence or from what was said.
infer from the data · we can infer that
Now use it
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Item 1 of 5
Are you that I had something to do with it?
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