MEANING
To reach a conclusion that follows from stated premises or known facts.
Use it for
logical consequences; inference from constraints; testing internal consistencyShow the premises that license a conclusion.
Words that belong together
- deduce from the evidence
- deduce that
- deduce a consequence
On the page
From the two stated conditions, we can deduce that no applicant qualifies.
She deduced the order of events from the dates on the receipts.
A universal rule cannot be deduced from three examples alone.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- deduce / deduces
- Past tense
- deduced
- Past participle
- deduced
- Present participle
- deducing
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- deduce / deduces
- Present continuous
- am/is/are deducing
- Present perfect
- have/has deduced
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been deducing
- Past
- deduced
- Past continuous
- was/were deducing
- Past perfect
- had deduced
- Past perfect continuous
- had been deducing
- Future
- will deduce / deduces
- Future continuous
- will be deducing
- Future perfect
- will have deduced
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been deducing
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: academic. In strict logic, valid deduction guarantees the conclusion only if the premises are true. Everyday use is looser; distinguish deducing from collecting observations. Verb inflections [base, third-person singular, past, past participle, -ing]: deduce, deduces, deduced, deduced, deducing. Derived family (not inflections): deduction, deductive.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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