extrapolate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to infer (an unknown) from something that is known; conjecture.
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Statistics. to estimate (the value of a variable) outside the tabulated or observed range.
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Mathematics. to estimate (a function that is known over a range of values of its independent variable) to values outside the known range.
verb (used without object)
verb
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maths to estimate (a value of a function or measurement) beyond the values already known, by the extension of a curve Compare interpolate
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to infer (something not known) by using but not strictly deducing from the known facts
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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extrapolationnoun
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extrapolatornoun
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overextrapolationnoun
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extrapolativeadjective
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extrapolatoryadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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extrapolatesimple
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extrapolatessimple
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have extrapolatedperfect
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has extrapolatedperfect
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am extrapolatingprogressive
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are extrapolatingprogressive
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is extrapolatingprogressive
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have been extrapolatingperfect progressive
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has been extrapolatingperfect progressive
Past
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extrapolatedsimple
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had extrapolatedperfect
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was extrapolatingprogressive
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were extrapolatingprogressive
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had been extrapolatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of extrapolate
First recorded in 1825–35; extra- + (inter)polate
Explanation
When you extrapolate, you use specific details to make a general conclusion. For example, if you travel to Canada and encounter only friendly, kind natives, you might extrapolate that all Canadians are friendly. The verb extrapolate can mean "to predict future outcomes based on known facts." For example, looking at your current grade report for math and how you are doing in class now, you could extrapolate that you'll likely earn a solid B for the year. Another meaning of extrapolate is "estimate the value of." You could extrapolate how much your antique watch is worth by finding how much similar watches sold for at recent auctions.
Vocabulary lists containing extrapolate
100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
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Unbroken
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Hidden Figures
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I’ve done that for over 14 years at that point when I started doing crowd work stuff, where it’s just a fun way to extrapolate on an idea.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
People extrapolate the good times too much in booms, and the bad times during busts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
"If you extrapolate back, then perhaps the first ones were soft-bodied creatures with entirely organic skeletons and no minerals at all," Xiao said.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 15, 2026
Mr Justice Nicklin started to ask what the best single piece of evidence for each article was, and Sherborne was forced to say: "We are asking your lordship to extrapolate."
From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2026
“I can extrapolate from that; it’s clearly still effective.”
From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
From each real-life situation, Mr. Coyle extrapolates concepts that are compelling, if a little gauzy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026
Instead, he extrapolates non-human data to people, using in vitro studies, or in vivo studies on non-human animals, to make prescriptive recommendations for lifestyle changes.
From Slate ● Mar. 27, 2024
The U-M system takes GPS data from a percentage of vehicles on the road and extrapolates traffic patterns.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 20, 2024
He extrapolates that it’s because Pullman is so far-flung, “just not hugely impacted by these things the way it would be in a city.”
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 4, 2023
It extrapolates from current events to remind us of the ever-growing threats to liberty.
From Little Brother by Doctorow, Cory
The inspector general’s office based its findings on a review of a selective or “purposive” sampling of 40 nursing-home inspections and admits the findings can’t easily be extrapolated to all facilities.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 7, 2026
That data can ultimately be extrapolated to regions where there isn’t much flood information to help predict sudden rainfall, Google said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026
Regional professional circuit PPA Tour Asia says more than 16 million people in Vietnam have picked up a paddle, though that figure is extrapolated from a survey of around 1,000 respondents.
From Barron's ● Dec. 28, 2025
"In addition, when comparing our constraints with those derived and extrapolated from the early universe's CMB, we also agree well," said Chang.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 21, 2025
And this can be extrapolated backward in time, so that when I speak, Desdemona speaks, too.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
“The market is likely extrapolating the swift, thus far, recovery of Mideast supply and already pricing expected future surpluses,” analysts at Goldman Sachs say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
I remember thinking that wealth is a great barrier to harm and then feeling silly for extrapolating my own experience once again.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026
Labeled the “January Barometer” by famed academic Yale Hirsch, creator of the Stock Trader’s Almanac, the idea of extrapolating first- month returns over the calendar year has proven to be a winner.
From Barron's ● Jan. 27, 2026
Lastly, Hsueh estimates that mined gold for full-year 2025, extrapolating from the first nine months of the year, will reach 3,693 tonnes which is a very modest response to the higher prices.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 26, 2025
But there are good reasons to be very careful in extrapolating from modern forager societies to ancient ones.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
