imply
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to suggest that something is true without saying it in a direct way.
to communicate a meaning or proposition indirectly rather than through explicit statement.
Simple“The article seemed to imply that the mayor was lying about the budget.”
In context“Although the CEO never mentioned layoffs, her focus on 'aggressive cost-cutting' seemed to imply that the workforce would soon be reduced.”
UsageOften followed by a 'that' clause.
PitfallI implied from his tone that he was angry. I inferred from his tone that he was angry.The speaker 'implies' (sends the message), but the listener 'infers' (receives the message).
- 02 C1 Advanced
to have something as a necessary or natural result.
to involve or entail something as a logical or necessary consequence.
Simple“High levels of pollution usually imply a lack of environmental laws.”
In context“The existence of these specific fossils implies that the region was once covered by a shallow tropical sea.”
UsageCommon in academic and scientific writing to describe cause and effect.
imply vs infer — Imply is the act of sending a hidden message; infer is the act of decoding it.
Usage assumption imply · concept imply · finding imply
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.