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imply

verb
im·​ply | \ im-ˈplī How to pronounce imply (audio) \
implied; implying

Definition of imply

transitive verb

1 : to express indirectly Her remarks implied a threat. The news report seems to imply his death was not an accident.
2 : to involve or indicate by inference, association, or necessary consequence rather than by direct statement rights imply obligations
3 : to contain potentially
4 obsolete : enfold, entwine
Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Infer vs. Imply: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about imply

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Choose the Right Synonym for imply

suggest, imply, hint, intimate, insinuate mean to convey an idea indirectly. suggest may stress putting into the mind by association of ideas, awakening of a desire, or initiating a train of thought. a film title that suggests its subject matter imply is close to suggest but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed. measures implying that bankruptcy was imminent hint implies the use of slight or remote suggestion with a minimum of overt statement. hinted that she might get the job intimate stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor. intimates that there is more to the situation than meets the eye insinuate applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner. insinuated that there were shady dealings

Infer vs. Imply: Usage Guide

Sir Thomas More is the first writer known to have used both infer and imply in their approved senses in 1528 (with infer meaning "to deduce from facts" and imply meaning "to hint at"). He is also the first to have used infer in a sense close in meaning to imply (1533). Both of these uses of infer coexisted without comment until some time around the end of World War I. Since then, the "indicate" and "hint or suggest" meanings of infer have been frequently condemned as an undesirable blurring of a useful distinction. The actual blurring has been done by the commentators. The "indicate" sense of infer, descended from More's use of 1533, does not occur with a personal subject. When objections arose, they were to a use with a personal subject (which is now considered a use of the "suggest, hint" sense of infer). Since dictionaries did not recognize this use specifically, the objectors assumed that the "indicate" sense was the one they found illogical, even though it had been in respectable use for four centuries. The actual usage condemned was a spoken one never used in logical discourse. At present the condemned "suggest, hint" sense is found in print chiefly in letters to the editor and other informal prose, not in serious intellectual writing. The controversy over the "suggest, hint" sense has apparently reduced the frequency with which the "indicate" sense of infer is used.

Examples of imply in a Sentence

Early reports implied that the judge's death was not an accident. His words implied a threat. War implies fighting and death.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Most of the motion was redacted, but CNN have published a small excerpt in relation to why Ronaldo signed the settlement agreement nine years ago, insisting that the fact an agreement happens to be in place doesn't imply guilt. — SI.com, "Cristiano Ronaldo's Lawyers Confirm Past Hush Payment to Rape Accuser," 20 Aug. 2019 Fierro was not implying that American fans did not embrace him. — Nick Eilerson, SFChronicle.com, "Revitalized San Jose Earthquakes ride MLS’ surging wave of Latin American talent," 2 Aug. 2019 But innovation and modernization, to the school, doesn't imply an erasure of tradition. — Brieanna J. Frank, azcentral, "'If I die tonight, I'll be dying happy': Gila River Indian Community celebrates first new school on reservation in a century," 27 July 2019 In this age where consent is not implied but voiced, people need to communicate their intentions verbally. — Amy Dickinson, chicagotribune.com, "Ask Amy: Ghosted woman dreads pals’ wedding," 26 July 2019 Assistance does not imply endorsement or advocation. — Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, "Jenean Hampton: Bevin's chief of staff 'overstepped his boundaries' in firing my aide," 18 June 2019 Which is not to imply that the murder mystery is some kind of endangered cinematic subspecies. — Justin Chang, latimes.com, "Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston look for clues and laughs in a strained ‘Murder Mystery’," 14 June 2019 The term seems to imply Level 5 full driverless automation. — Russ Mitchellstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, "Tesla has a huge incentive to deploy self-driving tech. But is the world ready?," 9 Aug. 2019 For his part, Bash was freaked out after his former butler Florian (Alex Rich) died from AIDs, implying that Bash loved him as more than a friend and his fears were keeping him closeted. — Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, "Everything you need to remember about GLOW before watching season 3," 8 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'imply.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of imply

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

History and Etymology for imply

Middle English emplien, from Anglo-French emplier to entangle — more at employ

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More Definitions for imply

imply

verb
How to pronounce imply (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of imply

: to express (something) in an indirect way : to suggest (something) without saying or showing it plainly
: to include or involve (something) as a natural or necessary part or result

See the full definition for imply in the English Language Learners Dictionary

imply

verb
im·​ply | \ im-ˈplī How to pronounce imply (audio) \
implied; implying

Kids Definition of imply

: to express indirectly : suggest rather than say plainly Your remark implies that I am wrong.

imply

transitive verb
im·​ply | \ im-ˈplī How to pronounce imply (audio) \
implied; implying

Legal Definition of imply

1 : to recognize as existing by inference or necessary consequence especially on legal or equitable grounds in ordinary circumstances…the law would imply that it was the duty of the hospital to use due care — Haase v. Starnes, 915 S.W.2d 675 (1996)
2 : to make known indirectly

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