inference
a conclusion based on evidence
An idea or conclusion you decide is true because of facts and clues, not because someone directly said it.
to draw/make [an inference] from [facts/evidence]
- From the empty driveway and dark windows, her inference was that nobody was home.
- The article leaves readers to make their own inferences about who was responsible.
- His inference that the company was in trouble turned out to be completely wrong.
- That seems like a reasonable inference from the data we have.
- The lawyer challenged the jury’s inferences about the defendant’s actions.
- From his wet clothes, she made the inference that it was raining outside.
- We do not say it directly, but the inference is clear.
- Your inference is wrong; he did not lie to you.
- The teacher asks students to make inferences from the story.
- It is only an inference, not a fact.
the act or process of inferring
The thinking process you use to reach a conclusion from facts and clues.
[inference] from [information/data]
- Good scientific work depends on careful observation and sound inference.
- Reading comprehension tests often measure a student’s ability in inference as well as basic understanding.
- The report describes the methods of data collection, analysis, and inference in detail.
- Human inference can sometimes be biased by personal beliefs.
- Training focused on improving students’ inference and critical‑thinking skills.
- In science, observation and inference are both important.
- The teacher explains how inference works when we read a story.
- Clear thinking and careful inference help us solve problems.
- This book is about logic and human inference.
- Their study looks at how language helps with inference.
formal reasoning from data or premises
In logic and statistics, the careful, rule‑based way of getting new conclusions from given facts or numbers.
[statistical/logical] inference about [a population/conclusion]
- The course introduces key ideas in statistical inference, such as confidence intervals and hypothesis testing.
- Bayesian inference allows us to update our beliefs when we receive new data.
- Their method uses logical inference to check whether the program can ever reach an unsafe state.
- Causal inference aims to understand not just correlation but actual cause‑and‑effect relationships.
- The software includes an inference engine that applies rules to the knowledge base.
- We will study statistical inference in the next chapter.
- Logical inference is important in computer science and math.
- Bayesian inference combines prior beliefs with new data.
- Causal inference is hard because many factors can change the result.
- The system uses an inference engine to answer questions.
AI model prediction phase
In AI, the step when a trained model takes new data and gives an answer or prediction.
[model] performs [inference] on [input data]
- We optimized the model for fast inference on mobile devices.
- The service separates training from inference so that predictions can run at scale.
- GPU acceleration greatly reduces inference time for large language models.
- During inference, the system takes the user’s input and returns a ranked list of recommendations.
- The team built a dedicated inference server to handle millions of requests per second.
- After training, the AI model is ready for inference.
- Fast inference is important for real‑time translation apps.
- They use special chips to speed up inference.
- The company pays for cloud servers to run model inference.
- Good hardware can make AI inference much cheaper.
- Base: inference
- Plural: inference, inferences
by inference
1understood indirectly from evidence
Used to say that something is known or believed because of what was said before, not because it was said directly.
- The report criticizes current policy and, by inference, the minister responsible for it.
- If the figures are correct, then, by inference, the original study must be flawed.
- He never admits it openly, but, by inference, we can see he supports the plan.
draw an inference
1form a conclusion from evidence
To decide what is true by using facts and clues, not by being told directly.
- From these results, we can draw an inference about how the market will react.
- It is too early to draw any firm inferences from the survey data.
- Readers are left to draw their own inferences from the story.
make an inference
1produce a conclusion from evidence
To use facts and clues to decide what something means or what is probably true.
- Students are asked to make inferences from the information in the graph.
- Before you make an inference, check that you really have enough evidence.
- Children often make inferences about characters’ feelings from their actions.