imply

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˌɪmˈplaɪ/ UK /ɪmˈplaɪ/ See IPA manual

Freq #14324

Meanings

1

verb
To suggest something without saying it directly.

Are you implying that I don't wash my hands properly?
2

verb
To make something seem true or likely as a result.

A higher salary usually implies more responsibility at work.
3

verb
To have something as a necessary result or consequence.

Correlation does not imply causation.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to suggest something... hint insinuate intimate suggest

2 verb · to make something seem true... connote

3 verb · to have something as a... entail involve

Opposites

nimply

Word family

Forms impliedimpliesimplying

Derived forms impliableimpliermisimply

Related forms connotation entail implicate implication implicative implicit implicitness

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.

implien Middle English emplier Old French implico Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# imply

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˌɪmˈplaɪ/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪmˈplaɪ/
**Frequency rank:** 14324

## Meanings
1. To suggest something without saying it directly.
2. To make something seem true or likely as a result.
3. To have something as a necessary result or consequence.

## Examples
- Are you implying that I don't wash my hands properly?
- A higher salary usually implies more responsibility at work.
- Correlation does not imply causation.

## Antonyms
- nimply

## Derived Forms
- impliable
- implier
- misimply

## Related Forms
- connotation
- entail
- implicate
- implication
- implicative
- implicit
- implicitness

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: implien
- Root: emplier
- Root: implico

## 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.

## AI Etymology
Imply comes 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. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern verbal form is built from the named elements. The historical line also includes implico (Latin). In current use, the main senses are “To suggest something without saying it directly” and “To make something seem true or likely as a result”.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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