imply

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To have as a necessary consequence; to lead to (something) as a consequence.

   Correlation does not imply causation

2. 2
   verb

   To suggest by logical inference.

   When I state that your dog is brown, I am not implying that all dogs are brown.

3. 3
   verb

   To hint; to insinuate; to suggest tacitly and avoid a direct statement.

   What do you mean "we need to be more careful with hygiene"? Are you implying that I don't wash my hands?

4. 4
   verb

   To enfold, entangle.

   And in his bosome secretly there lay / An hatefull Snake, the which his taile vptyes / In many folds, and mortall sting implyes.

5. 5
   verb

   express or state indirectly

6. 6
   verb

   suggest as a logically necessary consequence

7. 7
   verb

   have as a logical consequence

8. 8
   verb

   have as a necessary feature

Etymology

From Middle English implien, emplien, borrowed from Old French emplier, from Latin implicare (“to infold, involve”), from in (“in”) + plicare (“to fold”). Doublet of employ and implicate.