Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense implies, present participle implying, past tense, past participle implied
1. verb
If you implythat something is the case, you say something which indicates that it is the case in an indirect way.
'Are you implying that I have something to do with those attacks?' she asked coldly. [VERB that]
She felt undermined by the implied criticism. [VERB-ed]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: suggest, hint, insinuate, indicate More Synonyms of imply
2. verb
If an event or situation implies that something is the case, it makes you think it likely that it is the case.
Exports in June rose 1.5%, implying that the economy was stronger than many investorsthought. [VERB that]
A high fat intake nearly always implies a low fibre intake. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of imply
imply in British English
(ɪmˈplaɪ)
verbWord forms: -plies, -plying or -plied(tr; may take a clause as object)
1.
to express or indicate by a hint; suggest
what are you implying by that remark?
2.
to suggest or involve as a necessary consequence
3. logic
to enable (a conclusion) to be inferred
4. obsolete
to entangle or enfold
▶ USAGE See note at infer
Word origin
C14: from Old French emplier, from Latin implicāre to involve; see implicate
imply in American English
(ɪmˈplaɪ)
verb transitiveWord forms: imˈplied or imˈplying
1.
to have as a necessary part, condition, or effect; contain, include, or involve naturally or necessarily
drama implies conflict
2.
to indicate indirectly or by allusion; hint; suggest; intimate
an attitude implying boredom
3. Obsolete
to enfold; entangle
SIMILAR WORDS: sugˈgest
Word origin
ME implien < OFr emplier < L implicare, to involve, entangle < in-, in + plicare, to fold: see ply2
Examples of 'imply' in a sentence
imply
And she is straight on the defensive if any of my questions imply a criticism.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
As in the former case there can be no expressed or implied suggestion that such products are beneficial to health.
Hanssen, Maurice & Marsden, Jill E For Additives (1987)
One says it implies some heads aren't doing their job properly.
The Sun (2010)
But there's something in the way she says it that implies catastrophe.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Their Lordships implied no criticism of counsel.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Incredibly, in the present context, some are saying things that imply just this notion.
Christianity Today (2000)
To suggest otherwise implies, disgracefully, that victims are somehow complicit in the violence against them.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What this implies, he suggests, is that the recent rallies in some eurozone government bonds are actually due to foreign investors buying in anticipation.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
imply
British English: imply VERB
If you imply that something is the case, you say something which indicates that it is the case in an indirect way.
'Are you implying that I have something to do with those attacks?' she asked coldly.
American English: imply
Brazilian Portuguese: insinuar
Chinese: 暗指
European Spanish: implicar
French: suggérer
German: andeuten
Italian: insinuare
Japanese: ほのめかす
Korean: 함축하다
European Portuguese: insinuar
Latin American Spanish: implicar
Chinese translation of 'imply'
imply
(ɪmˈplaɪ)
vt
[person] (= suggest) 暗示 (ànshì)
to imply that ... 暗示 ... (ànshì ... )
[fact] (= mean) 意味 (yìwèi)
1 (verb)
Definition
to express or indicate by a hint
Are you implying that I had something to do with this?
Synonyms
suggest
What exactly are you suggesting?
hint
The President hinted she might make some changes in the government.
insinuate
The article insinuated that the President was lying.
indicate
She has indicated that she might resign.
signal
The country was signalling its readiness to have the embargo lifted.
intimate
She intimated that she was contemplating leaving the company.
signify
The two approaches signified a sharp difference between the men.
connote
The word `insecurity' connotes all sorts of things that we strive not to be.
give (someone) to understand
2 (verb)
Definition
to suggest or involve as a necessary consequence
The meeting in no way implies a resumption of contact with the terrorists.
Synonyms
involve
Running a kitchen involves a great deal of discipline and speed.
mean
The green signal means that you can go.
entail
Such a decision would entail a huge risk.
include
The trip was extended to include a few other events.
require
This requires thought, effort, and a certain ruthlessness.
indicate
import
point to
signify
denote
Red eyes denote strain and fatigue.
presuppose
All your arguments presuppose that he is a rational man.
betoken
His demeanour betokened embarrassment at his prosperity.
see infer
Additional synonyms
in the sense of betoken
Definition
to indicate
His demeanour betokened embarrassment at his prosperity.
Synonyms
indicate,
mark,
suggest,
evidence,
promise,
represent,
declare,
manifest,
signify,
denote,
typify,
bode,
bespeak,
augur,
presage,
portend,
prognosticate
in the sense of connote
The word `insecurity' connotes all sorts of things that we strive not to be.