extrapolate

American  

[ik-strap-uh-layt] / ɪkˈstræp əˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

• extrapolates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• extrapolated,
  past participle,  past
• extrapolating
  present participle

1. to infer (an unknown) from something that is known; conjecture.

2. Statistics. to estimate (the value of a variable) outside the tabulated or observed range.

3. Mathematics. to estimate (a function that is known over a range of values of its independent variable) to values outside the known range.

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verb (used without object)

• extrapolates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• extrapolated,
  past participle,  past
• extrapolating
  present participle

1. to perform extrapolation.

extrapolate British  

/ ɪkˈstræpəˌleɪt /

verb

1. maths to estimate (a value of a function or measurement) beyond the values already known, by the extension of a curve Compare interpolate

2. to infer (something not known) by using but not strictly deducing from the known facts

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extrapolate Scientific  

/ ĭk-străp′ə-lāt′ /

1. To estimate the value of a quantity that falls outside the range in which its values are known.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• extrapolation
  noun
• extrapolator
  noun
• overextrapolation
  noun
• extrapolative
  adjective
• extrapolatory
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• extrapolating
  present
• extrapolated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• extrapolate
  simple
• extrapolates
  simple
• have extrapolated
  perfect
• has extrapolated
  perfect
• am extrapolating
  progressive
• are extrapolating
  progressive
• is extrapolating
  progressive
• have been extrapolating
  perfect progressive
• has been extrapolating
  perfect progressive

Past

• extrapolated
  simple
• had extrapolated
  perfect
• was extrapolating
  progressive
• were extrapolating
  progressive
• had been extrapolating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will extrapolate
  simple
• will have extrapolated
  perfect
• will be extrapolating
  progressive
• will have been extrapolating
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of extrapolate

First recorded in 1825–35; extra- + (inter)polate

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

extrapolate extrapolates extrapolated extrapolating

Fans of the strategy point to the human tendency to extrapolate from past results—and chase investment returns—noting that momentum patterns have been evident in markets for decades, even centuries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

We therefore should resist the temptation to extrapolate the blazingly fast earnings growth of recent quarters into the indefinite future.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026

The West Coast appellate judges said it was “inappropriate” to extrapolate intent from one element of the crime, such as making a contract, to another, like the agreed-upon death.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 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

The names scratched into the posts no longer match the occupants, but I can extrapolate who’s who.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

The metric, which tech startups commonly use to signal their growth trajectory, is sometimes criticized as imprecise or even misleading, since it typically extrapolates a single month's sales across a full year.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

From each real-life situation, Mr. Coyle extrapolates concepts that are compelling, if a little gauzy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026

Other data extrapolates from animal experiments or cases in which people have undergone brain damage to infer what is happening in functional brain regions.

From Salon ● May 7, 2025

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

It extrapolates from current events to remind us of the ever-growing threats to liberty.

From Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

The figures are based on a representative sample of 550 forecourts, comparing the five months prior to the outbreak with the five months after it started, and extrapolated to the UK's 8,359 forecourts.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

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

"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

The entire series, written by the clever Ben Elton, extrapolated what little is known about the Bard into an ingenious series of perfectly plausible comic dilemmas, and an occasional unexpected dramatic one.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 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

That’s as they worry “markets are extrapolating near-term trends — including profits fueled by the investment boom itself — too far into the future.”

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 23, 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

No matter the reading, investors should be careful about extrapolating March’s trend into the coming months.

From Barron's ● Apr. 12, 2026

I was no longer extrapolating; I was looping it through the core, freely talking about my life, suddenly breaching the confidences of my father and my mother and my wife.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

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Related Words

• deduce
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