Infer vs. Guess — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Infer and Guess
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Compare with Definitions
Infer
To conclude from evidence or by reasoning
"For many years the cerebral localization of all higher cognitive processes could be inferred only from the effects of brain injuries on the people who survived them" (Sally E. Shaywitz).
Guess
To predict (a result or an event) without sufficient information.
Infer
To involve by logical necessity; entail
"Socrates argued that a statue inferred the existence of a sculptor" (Academy).
Guess
To assume, presume, or assert (a fact) without sufficient information.
Infer
(Usage Problem) To indicate indirectly; imply.
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Guess
To form a correct estimate or conjecture of
Guessed the answer.
Infer
To draw inferences.
Guess
To suppose; think
I guess he was wrong.
Infer
(transitive) To introduce (something) as a reasoned conclusion; to conclude by reasoning or deduction, as from premises or evidence.
Guess
To make an estimate or conjecture
We could only guess at her motives.
Infer
To lead to (something) as a consequence; to imply.
Guess
To estimate or conjecture correctly.
Infer
(obsolete) To cause, inflict (something) upon or to someone.
Guess
An act or instance of guessing.
Infer
(obsolete) To introduce (a subject) in speaking, writing etc.; to bring in, to adduce.
Guess
A conjecture arrived at by guessing.
Infer
To bring on; to induce; to occasion.
Guess
To reach a partly (or totally) unqualified conclusion.
Infer
To offer, as violence.
Guess
To solve by a correct conjecture; to conjecture rightly.
He who guesses the riddle shall have the ring.
Infer
To bring forward, or employ as an argument; to adduce; to allege; to offer.
Full well hath Clifford played the orator,Inferring arguments of mighty force.
Guess
To suppose (introducing a proposition of uncertain plausibility).
That album is quite hard to find, but I guess you could try ordering it online.
Infer
To derive by deduction or by induction; to conclude or surmise from facts or premises; to accept or derive, as a consequence, conclusion, or probability; as, I inferred his determination from his silence.
To infer is nothing but by virtue of one proposition laid down as true, to draw in another as true.
Such opportunities always infer obligations.
Guess
(colloquial) To think, conclude, or decide (without a connotation of uncertainty). Usually in first person: "I guess".
"I guess you were right." "What did he say?" "He guesses you were right."
"I guess I'll go to bed."
Infer
To show; to manifest; to prove.
The first part is not the proof of the second, but rather contrariwise, the second inferreth well the first.
This doth infer the zeal I had to see him.
Guess
(obsolete) To hit upon or reproduce by memory.
Infer
Reason by deduction; establish by deduction
Guess
A prediction about the outcome of something, typically made without factual evidence or support.
If you don't know the answer, take a guess.
Infer
Draw from specific cases for more general cases
Guess
To form an opinion concerning, without knowledge or means of knowledge; to judge of at random; to conjecture.
First, if thou canst, the harder reason guess.
Infer
Conclude by reasoning; in logic
Guess
To judge or form an opinion of, from reasons that seem preponderating, but are not decisive.
We may then guess how far it was from his design.
Of ambushed men, whom, by their arms and dress,To be Taxallan enemies I guess.
Infer
Guess correctly; solve by guessing;
He guessed the right number of beans in the jar and won the prize
Guess
To solve by a correct conjecture; to conjecture rightly; as, he who guesses the riddle shall have the ring; he has guessed my designs.
Infer
Believe to be the case;
I understand you have no previous experience?
Guess
To hit upon or reproduce by memory.
Tell me their words, as near as thou canst guess them.
Guess
To think; to suppose; to believe; to imagine; - followed by an objective clause.
Not all together; better far, I guess,That we do make our entrance several ways.
But in known images of life I guessThe labor greater.
Guess
To make a guess or random judgment; to conjecture; - with at, about, etc.
This is the place, as well as I may guess.
Guess
An opinion as to anything, formed without sufficient or decisive evidence or grounds; an attempt to hit upon the truth by a random judgment; a conjecture; a surmise.
A poet must confessHis art 's like physic - but a happy guess.
Guess
A message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
Guess
An estimate based on little or no information
Guess
Expect, believe, or suppose;
I imagine she earned a lot of money with her new novel
I thought to find her in a bad state
He didn't think to find her in the kitchen
I guess she is angry at me for standing her up
Guess
Put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation;
I am guessing that the price of real estate will rise again
I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong
Guess
Judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time);
I estimate this chicken to weigh three pounds
Guess
Guess correctly; solve by guessing;
He guessed the right number of beans in the jar and won the prize
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