imply
verb/ɪmˈplaɪ/
/ɪmˈplaɪ/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they imply | /ɪmˈplaɪ/ /ɪmˈplaɪ/ |
| he / she / it implies | /ɪmˈplaɪz/ /ɪmˈplaɪz/ |
| past simple implied | /ɪmˈplaɪd/ /ɪmˈplaɪd/ |
| past participle implied | /ɪmˈplaɪd/ /ɪmˈplaɪd/ |
| -ing form implying | /ɪmˈplaɪɪŋ/ /ɪmˈplaɪɪŋ/ |
- to suggest that something is true or that you feel or think something, without saying so directly
- imply (that)… Are you implying (that) I am wrong?
- imply something His silence seemed to imply agreement.
- High-yield bonds, as the name implies, offer a high rate of interest.
- it is implied that… It was implied that we were at fault.
Which Word? infer / implyinfer / implyInfer and imply have opposite meanings. The two words can describe the same event, but from different points of view- If a speaker or writer implies something, they suggest it without saying it directly:
- The article implied that the pilot was responsible for the accident.
- If you infer something from what a speaker or writer says, you come to the conclusion that this is what they mean:
- I inferred from the article that the pilot was responsible for the accident.
- Infer is now often used in informal speech with the same meaning as imply:
- Are you inferring that I’m a liar?
Extra Examples- I never meant to imply any criticism.
- The article falsely implied that he was responsible for the accident.
- The letter seems to imply that the minister knew about the business deals.
- This statement should not be taken to imply that the government is exonerated of all blame.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- clearly
- heavily
- strongly
- …
- seem to
- intend to
- mean to
- …
- express or implied
- real or implied
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- to make it seem likely that something is true or exists synonym suggest
- imply (that)… The survey implies (that) more people are moving house than was thought.
- it is implied that… It was implied in the survey that…
- imply something Popularity does not necessarily imply merit.
- The fact that she was here implies a degree of interest.
Extra Examples- The statement logically implies a certain conclusion.
- They believe that submission in no way implies inferiority.
- Campaigners said the data implies the existence of ‘a pressing social need’.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- clearly
- heavily
- strongly
- …
- seem to
- intend to
- mean to
- …
- express or implied
- real or implied
- imply something (of an idea, action, etc.) to make something necessary in order to be successful synonym mean
- The project implies an enormous investment in training.
- Sustainable development implies a long-term perspective.
see also implication
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French emplier, from Latin implicare, from in- ‘in’ + plicare ‘to fold’. The original sense was ‘entwine’; in the 16th and 17th cents the word also meant ‘employ’. Compare with employ and implicate.
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imply