extraer
verbCEFR B2
What does “extraer” mean in English?
to extract, to draw out
to extract, to draw out (intellectual: extraer conclusiones/lecciones de; physical: extract natural resources)
Example sentences
Del análisis comparativo se pueden extraer conclusiones sobre qué políticas han resultado más eficaces.
From the comparative analysis, conclusions can be drawn about which policies have proved most effective.
La empresa extrae minerales raros en condiciones que han sido muy criticadas por organizaciones de derechos humanos.
The company extracts rare minerals in conditions that have been severely criticised by human rights organisations.
Es difícil extraer lecciones útiles de una experiencia cuando no se ha realizado una evaluación rigurosa.
It is difficult to draw useful lessons from an experience when no rigorous evaluation has been carried out.
How to use it
Extraer means 'to extract' or 'to draw out'. At B2 it has two main registers: physical (extraer recursos naturales — to extract natural resources) and intellectual (extraer conclusiones — to draw conclusions, extraer lecciones — to draw lessons). The intellectual sense is most productive at B2. Key pattern: extraer + noun + de + source (extraer conclusiones del análisis — to draw conclusions from the analysis). The noun is la extracción. Don't confuse with deducir (to deduce logically) — extraer is more about drawing out what is already contained in data or experience.
Common mistake
Extraer conclusiones (draw conclusions) is the most important B2 intellectual pattern — more formal than sacar conclusiones (which is also correct but more colloquial). Don't confuse extraer with obtener (to obtain — implies getting something for use) or deducir (to deduce — implies logical inference from premises). The de-phrase marking the source is obligatory in formal writing.