imply
v.v. to suggest something without saying it directly. You use this when you want to hint at a meaning instead of being very clear.
v. to suggest or express something indirectly rather than stating it explicitly. Often used to describe the logical consequence of a statement or action.
His tone of voice seemed to imply that he was angry.
The report does not state the cause of the fire, but it does imply that the wiring was old.
While the author never explicitly blames the government, the recurring themes of neglect and decay strongly imply a failure of public policy over several decades.
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 verb is transitive and often takes a 'that' clause or a direct object.
I didn't imply what you saidI didn't infer what you saidLearners confuse 'imply' (the speaker hints at something) with 'infer' (the listener guesses the meaning).