implyim‧ply /ɪmˈplaɪ/ ●●○ W2 AWL verb (past tense and past participle implied, present participle implying, third person singular implies) [transitive] 
Word Origin Examples
Cleo blushed. She had not meant to imply that he was lying. an implied threat2if a fact, event etc implies something, it shows that it is likely to be true SYN suggestimply (that) The high level of radiation in the rocks implies that they are volcanic in origin.3if one thing implies another, it proves that the second thing exists: Democracy implies a respect for individual liberties. High profits do not necessarily imply efficiency.
Word OriginWORD ORIGINimply
Verb TableOrigin:
1300-1400 Old French emplier, from Latin implicare; ➔ IMPLICATEVERB TABLE
imply
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | imply |
| he, she, it | implies | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | implied |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have implied |
| he, she, it | has implied | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had implied |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will imply |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have implied |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am implying |
| he, she, it | is implying | |
| you, we, they | are implying | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was implying |
| you, we, they | were implying | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been implying |
| he, she, it | has been implying | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been implying |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be implying |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been implying |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- Among the ruins there are inscriptions, implying some degree of literacy even in the 9th century BC.
- As the examples imply, some markets are local while others are national or international in scope.
- Free trade implies shared values.
- His criticisms implied a lack of confidence in my work.
- Just the fact that he's written to you implies he likes you.
- Many prisoners' arms and legs have been broken, implying torture.
- Michael did imply that I could have the job if I wanted it.
- The article implied that unemployed people are lazy and do not want to work.
- The results imply that the disease originated in West Africa.
- The way he greeted the boys seemed to imply that he knew them quite well.
- You seem to be implying something that is not quite true.
- An obligation of confidence can arise through contract, either express or implied.
- But research implies something fresh about the material we obtain.
- In discussing deviance here, no moral judgment is implied save in one respect.
- Obedience did not imply approval, however.
- This implies that any differences between forward and futures prices will be inconsequential.
- This assumption implies that the forward rate is an unbiased predictor of the future spot rate.
- What Polybius has in common with Cato, especially about the Roman constitution, does not necessarily imply that he read Cato.
Longman Language Activatorwhen something has a meaning that is not directly stated► suggest
Collocations if a statement, fact, event etc suggests that something is true, it seems to mean that it is true or could be true, but this is not directly stated: · It is still not clear what these facts suggest -- perhaps a new strain of the virus, or a completely new virus.suggest (that): · All the evidence suggests that the problem has improved in recent years.· The victim had marks on his neck which seemed to suggest he had been strangled.
► imply if a statement, fact, event etc implies that something is true, it suggests very strongly that it is true : · His criticisms implied a lack of confidence in my work.imply (that): · The way he greeted the boys seemed to imply that he knew them quite well.· Just the fact that he's written to you implies he likes you.
► say to say something in an indirect way - use this especially when you are saying what the real meaning of a statement is: · What do you think the writer is saying in this story?say (that): · Are you saying I'm fat?· So what you're saying, Mr President, is that you don't have a policy on this issue.
► implication a meaning that is not directly stated, but which seems to be intended: · He didn't actually accuse me of stealing, but that was the implication.implication that: · Staff members were asked to work on Sundays, with the implication that they would lose their jobs if they refused.by implication (=the intended meaning is that): · The law bans organized protests and, by implication, any form of opposition.
► undertone a feeling or attitude that seems to be part of a statement, even though it is not directly stated: · a story with racist undertonesundertone of: · There was an unmistakable undertone of nationalist resentment in many of their remarks.
to say something in an indirect way► imply to say something that seems to mean that another thing is true, but without saying the other thing directly: · You seem to be implying something that is not quite true.imply (that): · Michael did imply that I could have the job if I wanted it.· The article implied that unemployed people are lazy and do not want to work.
► suggest to say something in an indirect way, especially something bad that you prefer not to say directly: · What are you suggesting? Do you think I'm a thief?suggest (that): · His letter seemed to suggest that he wasn't satisfied with my work.I'm not suggesting (=used for telling someone you are not criticizing them): · I'm not suggesting you deliberately tried to mislead us, just that you made a mistake.
► hint to say something in a very indirect way, but so that other people can guess what you mean: hint (that): · Harry hinted that his friendship with Mona might have contributed to his marriage break-up.hint at: · The President hinted at the possibility of military action.
► drop a hint to say something that suggests that you want to do something or that you want someone to do something, but without saying it directly: drop a hint about: · She kept dropping hints about her birthday, just to make sure none of us forgot about it.· My mother dropped several hints about us wallpapering her sitting room.
► in a roundabout way if you say something in a roundabout way , you say it in an indirect way, especially to avoid offending or embarrassing someone: · I told him, in a roundabout way, that he wasn't really good enough to join my English class.
when something shows that something else is likely to be true► suggest to show that something is probably true, even though there is no definite proof: · In fact, the situation is far worse than these figures suggest.suggest (that): · There was nothing in his letter to suggest that he might have been unhappy or depressed.· The drop in trading suggests the Asian economies may be headed for recession.suggest something to somebody: · A child's behavior might suggest to others that there are problems at home.strongly suggest (=show that something is very likely): · The door had not been forced open, which strongly suggests that the victim was known to her killer.
► indicate if scientific facts, tests, official figures etc indicate something, they show that it is likely to be true: · How badly reform is needed was indicated recently by the rising youth crime figures.indicate (that): · Research indicates that the drug can be harmful to pregnant women.· Campaign finance records indicate many of the guests were donors to his own party.
► give the impression to make people think that a particular situation exists, even though this may not actually be true: · She wasn't stupid, though at times she gave that impression.give the impression (that): · The luxurious offices gave the impression that the company had plenty of money to spare.give the impression of: · All this splendour and ceremony may at first give the impression of high culture and sophistication.give the impression that: · He gave me the impression that he didn't really rate my work.
► point to to show that a particular explanation for something is likely to be true or that something is likely to happen in the future: · All the evidence points to a fatty diet being the main cause of heart disease in the West.· The poor economic climate and the attitude of leading executives both point to a grim future.
► imply if a fact or piece of information, especially scientific information, implies something, it shows that it is likely to be true: · Among the ruins there are inscriptions, implying some degree of literacy even in the 9th century BC.· As the examples imply, some markets are local while others are national or international in scope.imply (that): · The results imply that the disease originated in West Africa.
► implicate to show that someone or something is likely to be involved in or connected to something, especially something bad or harmful: · According to the prosecution, DNA tests 'irrefutably' implicate Henson.implicate in: · Sexually transmitted diseases have long been implicated in infertility.implicate as: · Seafood is increasingly implicated as the source of the hepatitis A virus. implicate himself/yourself etc (=show, suggest, or prove that he etc has committed a crime): · Simon knew he couldn't possibly provide a blood sample without implicating himself.
► be indicative of formal if something is indicative of an event or situation, it shows that the event or situation is likely to exist or be true, but it is not definite that it does: · Persistent abdominal pain may be indicative of appendicitis.· The absence of any famous female composers is more indicative of male dominance than male genius.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► implied criticism
Word family (=suggested indirectly, rather than said openly)· She sensed the implied criticism in his remarks.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► also· This theory also implies that the internal body clock takes up to five years to develop fully.· This will no doubt make possible the most spectacular progress: but it also implies the longest distance to go.· The fluttering or hovering of the Spirit, which is also implied, paradoxically indicates infinite gentle care.· A parochial orientation also implies the comparative absence of expectations of change initiated by the political system.· A modusvivendi would also imply success.· Co-ordination also implies a certain amount of standardization.· However, they also imply that there could be objects that have always travelled at faster-than light speeds.· It can also imply that all the experiences and aspirations of their members are exhausted by the fact of racial subordination.
► necessarily· Competition and struggle may be the watchwords but this does not necessarily imply outright hostility.· Therefore, it does not necessarily imply an out-of-control situation. 66.· Accountability usually presupposes evaluation, but evaluation does not necessarily imply accountability.· While this does not necessarily imply causality, it does suggest that the climate was compatible with public acceptance.· What Polybius has in common with Cato, especially about the Roman constitution, does not necessarily imply that he read Cato.· But does this necessarily imply more intense faith?· And need a failure of transfer necessarily imply the failure of a contextually mediated retrieval process?· However, the rapid increase in the number of science policy-making organs does not necessarily imply efficiency.
NOUN► change· Design implies change and improvement, solving technical problems and meeting new needs.· This seemed strange because the very word premenstrual naturally implies hormonal changes.· Thus changes to some constants imply changes to other constants.· At the same time the new tax system implied a fundamental change in the nature and purpose of the village community.· Similarly, organisational learning implies change-in management philosophies and practices, organisational culture and procedures.· Even before any changes were made in the police force, his presence implied great change.· Such a model also implies a change in the driving force of economic decision-making.· Again, decisions like these implied change.
► existence· Secondly the standard routes to chaos imply the existence of a well-defined onset of chaotic behaviour.· The more traditional cross symbolised fulfilment; but fulfilment implied a span of existence transcending the grave.· It implies the existence of a unified global economy that has a dynamic beyond simply the interaction of separate domestic economies.· Local elections would not imply the existence of local politics if local election behaviour simply reflected attitudes towards national politics.· Does not the concept of a citizen imply the existence of a society?
► name· The Gozinto chart does exactly what its name implies.· As the name implies, the service is limited to the graphics-rich World Wide Web, excluding discussion areas.· Library-Collegians reverse the usual conceptual model, as their name implies.· The new system was as deep and mysterious as its chromatic code name implied.· As the name implies, this operation involves emphasizing the boundary or edge features on the image so that it looks less blurred.· Some of these products have fanciful names which imply that they are for the calorie conscious.· As their name implies, merchant banks' function is to finance trade.· A pled ging transaction is structured as its name implies.
► need· The second dimension implies the need for self-conscious implementation of equal opportunities and the questioning and revision of routine practices.· As our discussion of the corporate form implies, the need for money capital is a critical determinant.· Furthermore, the very notion of self-determination implies the need to exclude any outside pressure on a country.· The third dimension implies the need for a society-wide reduction of inequalities and programmes of positive action by institutions.· Allowing for retirements, that still implies the need for 2 million new jobs if unemployment is to be reduced significantly.· Reconciliation implies the need to achieve harmony by making different objectives compatible.· This implies the need to store potentially very large, unstructured data objects as just another field in a database record.
► term· The use of the term steriliser implies a chemical capability that is not possible in the food industry.· These terms do not imply relationships nor are they roles to be played.· What are the terms implied by the Supply of Goods and Services Act?· The academic community depends upon, as the term implies, communication among its members.· Certain other terms are implied into leases by virtue of statute and these are dealt with in their respective contexts.· As the term implies, these traders own their own retail outlets.· These standards arise from terms implied by law.
► word· The subject is a short word, implying the self-effacement of the lover.· In popular language and literature, these two words simply implied contrast.· What their words really imply is that they do not want to think about why they are out of breath on stairs.· This seemed strange because the very word premenstrual naturally implies hormonal changes.· In interpreting statutes, additional words should not be implied or introduced when the plain and natural meaning is clear.· She hoarded words that implied such intimacy.· Did those words imply a halt to recruiting and training guerrillas, as well as to shooting and bombing?· So, is this bank going to keep its word, expressed or implied?
VERB► mean· He meant to imply that the Old King trusted William, that they were close politically, not sexually.· I do not mean to imply that the Ninth Amendment is applied against the States by the Fourteenth.· I do not mean to imply that engineering should or could be an exact discipline.· This is not meant to imply that the details of the interaction are the same in both proteins.
► seem· The Bank seemed to be implying that it was all the auditors' fault.· The myths and the archaeological record seem to imply a world-wide pattern of power taken from women.· A change along one irrelevant dimension always seems to imply changes in the relevant dimensions for the preoperational child.· None the less many writers seem to imply that it is, and as a result their position is unclear.· This seems to imply that care programming has been considered and dismissed as redundant in view of prevailing systems of mental health care.· Compromise seemed to imply concern for their own privileges and betrayal of the masses.· That would seem to imply little reliability as either a mirror or informer of public opinion.
WORD FAMILYnounimplicationverbimply
1to suggest that something is true, without saying this directly → infer, implicationimply (that) Cleo blushed. She had not meant to imply that he was lying. an implied threat2if a fact, event etc implies something, it shows that it is likely to be true SYN suggestimply (that) The high level of radiation in the rocks implies that they are volcanic in origin.3if one thing implies another, it proves that the second thing exists: Democracy implies a respect for individual liberties. High profits do not necessarily imply efficiency.