引申是指從原詞的內在含義出發，結合語境和譯入語的表達習慣，在譯文中對某些詞作一定的語義調整，以達到忠實、通順的目的。英譯漢時常常會遇到許多單詞，按詞典上給的詞義來翻譯，譯文就會生硬難懂，甚至造成意思上的曲解。
(1)具體———抽象
經典例題: Were it left to an American to decide whether they should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government，he should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.
參考譯文: 如果讓一個美國人決定要沒有言論自由的政府還是要言論自由而無政府的`國家，他會毫不猶豫地選擇後者。
經典例題: There were times when emigration bottleneck was extremely rigid and nobody was allowed to leave the country out of his personal preference.
分析: bottleneck本指“瓶頸”，由於具有使緩慢和阻滯的效果，因而被抽象地引申爲“限制”。參考譯文: 過去有過這種情況: 移民限制極爲嚴格，不許任何人出於個人考慮而遷居他國。
(2)抽象———具體
經典例題: While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians，modern practice most closely conforms to one that sees history as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past.
參考譯文: 幾乎每個史學家對史學都有自己的界定，但現代史學家們的觀點都趨向於認爲史學是試圖重現並闡明過去發生的重大事件。(1999年真題)
經典例題: When the Jones were little，they were forbidden to set foot there，because of the revolting language and of what they might catch.
參考譯文: 瓊斯家裏的人，小時候是不允許走進那裏的，生怕學到一些下流話，或沾染上什麼毛病。
經典例題: All the irregularities of the students in that university resulted in punishment. 參考譯文: 那所大學的學生做出的任何越軌行爲都會受到處罰。
