Deduce: Meaning, Usage & Examples

Meaning 1：reason logically (deduce)

deduce 🔊

/dɪˈdjuːs/

To use clues you already have to figure out something you don‘t know yet, like a detective solving a mystery.

Deduce meaning illustrated by a detective logically analyzing clues on a board

reason logically 🔊

➕

/ˈriːzən ˈlɒdʒɪkli/

To reach a conclusion through systematic thinking based on evidence or premises.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'deducere' meaning 'to lead down or away' (de- 'down' + ducere 'to lead'), leading to a conclusion.

💡 Mnemonic

Deduce sounds like 'the clues' - detectives use clues to deduce the truth.

📖 Example

Seeing his classmate's raincoat and boots in the bag, he deduced that it would rain later. 🔊 He logically concluded that it would rain later by observing his classmate's rain gear.

🔗 Collocations

deduce from facts – to reach a conclusion based on factual evidence

deduce logically – to reason in a step-by-step, rational manner

🔄 Synonyms

infer (v.) – to conclude from evidence or reasoning

conclude (v.) – to arrive at a judgment or decision by reasoning

reason (v.) – to think logically and draw conclusions

🚫 Antonyms

guess (v.) – to estimate or form an opinion without sufficient evidence

assume (v.) – to accept something as true without proof

🌱 Derivatives

deduction (n.) – the process of reaching a conclusion by reasoning; something that is deduced

deductive (adj.) – characterized by reasoning from general principles to specific instances

📖 Cultural Story

The verb 'deduce' comes from Latin 'deducere', originally used in logic and law to describe the process of drawing a specific conclusion from general principles or evidence.