# implied

/ˌɪmˈpɫaɪd/ (US) · /ɪmplˈaɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/implied
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. suggested but not stated

adjective · CEFR B2

suggested or understood without being said directly.

For teachers: suggested or signaled without being explicitly articulated; often used to describe meanings, threats, or agreements.

- There was an implied threat in his voice, even though he spoke politely.
- The contract contains an implied warranty that the goods will be fit for their intended purpose, even if not explicitly written in the text.

### 2. suggested (past tense)

verb · CEFR B2

suggested something was true without saying it clearly.

For teachers: the past tense of imply, meaning to indicate or suggest something without stating it directly.

- The report implied that the company was in serious financial trouble.
- The researcher implied that the initial data might have been compromised, though she stopped short of accusing her colleagues of negligence.

Usage: This is a transitive verb that often takes a 'that' clause as its object.

## Examples

- She implied that the meeting was a waste of time.
- The manager never said we were failing, but his constant questions about our progress implied he was worried.
- Although the contract did not explicitly mention a deadline, the aggressive payment schedule strongly implied that the project required immediate completion.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.