extrapolate
Say it: ik-STRAP-uh-layt /ɪkˈstræpəleɪt/ · verb
What “extrapolate” means
Use a known pattern to estimate what comes next.
More precisely: To estimate or conclude something by extending known facts or trends.
Example: “Don't extrapolate a whole year's sales from one good week.”
When to use it
When projecting beyond the information you already have, often in research, planning or forecasts, with some uncertainty.
Similar words
project, infer, extend
Quick check
Your plant grows roughly the same amount each week, so you estimate its height next month. What do you do?
measure or extrapolate?
Show the answer
extrapolate
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