imply

[im-plahy]

verb (used with object)

implied, implying 

1. to indicate or suggest without being explicitly stated.

   His words implied a lack of faith.

2. (of words) to signify or mean.

3. to involve as a necessary circumstance.

   Speech implies a speaker.

   Synonyms: demand, require

4. Obsolete.,  to enfold.

imply

/ ɪmˈplaɪ /

verb

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 infer.

Other Word Forms

• reimply verb (used with object)
• superimply verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of imply¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English implien, emplien, from Middle French emplier, from Latin implicāre; implicate

Word History and Origins

Origin of imply¹

C14: from Old French emplier, from Latin implicāre to involve; see _implicate

Example Sentences

Cutler was charged with DUI, possession of a handgun while under the influence, failure to exercise due care and violating implied consent.

From Los Angeles Times

Barrett called the decision that granted a nationwide right to abortion via an understanding of the Constitution’s implied right to privacy an “exercise of raw judicial power.”

From Salon

This implies a breakdown in shift from the 19th century authoritarian artistic domination of a music director that still holds just about everywhere to a more democratic and utopian concept.

From Los Angeles Times

What makes her laugh, though, is remembering a complaint from a furious mum who accused her of ruining her daughter's childhood because one of her books implied that 11-year-olds no longer believe in Father Christmas.

From BBC

All four charges against Cutler — which also included failure to exercise due care and violating implied consent — were misdemeanors.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• entail 
• hint 
• involve 
• mention 
• signify 
• suggest 

When To Use

What's the difference between imply and infer?

To imply is to indicate or suggest something without actually stating it. Infer most commonly means to guess or use reasoning to come to a conclusion based on what has been suggested.Imply and infer can be confused because they’re often used at opposite ends of the same situation. When someone implies something (suggests it without saying it explicitly), you have to infer their meaning (conclude what it is based on the hints that have been given).For example, you might infer that your friend wants cake for their birthday because they keep talking about how much they like cake and reminding you that their birthday is coming up. Your friend didn’t actually ask for cake, but they implied that they want it by giving you hints. You used these hints to infer that they want cake.Of course, there are situations in which you might infer something when nothing was implied or nothing was intended to be implied.Probably due to the association between the two words, infer is sometimes used to mean the same thing as imply—to hint or suggest. Even though this can be confusing, the meaning of infer can usually be easily inferred from the context in which it’s used.Here’s an example of imply and infer used correctly in a sentence.Example: Even though he only implied that he may be in trouble, we correctly inferred that he was.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between imply and infer.