imply
/ɪmˈplaɪ/- 1.
To suggest something without saying it directly. The speaker hints at a meaning but does not state it openly.
- Her tone implied that she was not happy with the result.
- Are you implying that I was wrong to do that?
- The data implies a strong link between diet and health.
- 2.
To have something as a necessary or logical result. If one thing is true, then another thing must follow from it.
- Freedom implies responsibility for your own choices.
- A higher salary usually implies more demanding work.
Adinary Nuance
Imply is most easily confused with suggest, hint, insinuate, and especially infer. The crucial rule: the speaker or writer implies; the listener or reader infers — so "She implied I was rude" and "I inferred from her words that she was angry" are both correct, but swapping those verbs is a common error. Suggest is slightly more direct than imply — you can suggest something openly, but implying always involves leaving the meaning unstated. Insinuate is the darker cousin: it implies something negative or suspicious in a sly way, carrying a critical or accusatory tone that imply does not always carry.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Ám chỉ
- Spanish
- Dar a entender
- Chinese
- 暗示
- Japanese
- 暗示する
- Korean
- 암시하다
Etymology
From Latin "implicare," meaning "to involve" or "to enfold," via Old French "emplier." The word entered English in the late 14th century, originally meaning "to entangle"; the modern sense of hinting at unstated meaning developed through the 15th–16th centuries.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between 'imply' and 'infer'?
- The speaker or writer implies — they leave a meaning unstated for the listener to pick up. The listener or reader infers — they draw a conclusion from what was said. Example: 'She implied I was lying' (she said it indirectly); 'I inferred that she doubted me' (I understood it from her words).
- Is 'imply' formal or can I use it in everyday conversation?
- 'Imply' works in both formal writing and casual speech. It is very common in academic and IELTS writing ('the results imply that...') but you will also hear it in everyday conversation ('Are you implying I'm wrong?').
- What is the difference between 'imply' and 'suggest'?
- 'Suggest' is more open and direct — you can suggest something openly. 'Imply' always involves an unstated, indirect meaning. 'He suggested we leave early' is a clear proposal, while 'He implied we should leave' hints at it without saying so outright.
- How do I use 'imply' correctly in academic writing?
- Use 'imply' when your evidence points to a conclusion without proving it completely. For example: 'These findings imply a relationship between stress and poor sleep.' Avoid confusing it with 'infer' — writers imply, readers infer.