deduce

[dih-doos, -dyoos]

verb (used with object)

deduced, deducing 

1. to derive as a conclusion from something known or assumed; infer.

   From the evidence the detective deduced that the gardener had done it.

   Synonyms: determine, gather, reason, conclude

2. to trace the derivation of; trace the course of.

   to deduce one's lineage.

deduce

/ dɪˈdjuːs /

verb

1. (may take a clause as object) to reach (a conclusion about something) by reasoning; conclude (that); infer

2. archaic,  to trace the origin, course, or derivation of

Other Word Forms

• deducible adjective
• deducibility noun
• deducibleness noun
• deducibly adverb
• nondeducible adjective
• subdeducible adjective
• undeduced adjective
• undeducible adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deduce¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin dēdūcere “to lead down, derive,” from dē- de- + dūcere “to lead”

Word History and Origins

Origin of deduce¹

C15: from Latin dēdūcere to lead away, derive, from _de- + dūcere to lead

Example Sentences

On the subject of lyricism, as may be deduced by now, it was a largely disappointing year for new musicals—but not for musical-theater performances.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

These include age verification tools such as facial age estimation, which must be "robust" in deducing whether a user is over 18.

Read more on BBC

“That means he must have escaped on foot,” Beowulf deduced.

Read more on Literature

On every wall hung Historical Portraits so shameless in their Overuse of Symbolism that any first-year art student could have deduced where they were.

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But Igor isn’t just adept at sniffing out truffles — he quickly deduces that she’s emotionally lost.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deduct 
• glean 
• infer 
• presuppose 
• surmise