implant

American  

[im-plant, -plahnt, im-plant, -plahnt] / ɪmˈplænt, -ˈplɑnt, ˈɪmˌplænt, -ˌplɑnt /

verb (used with object)

implants, present (3rd person singular) implanted, past participle, past implanting present participle

1. to put or fix firmly.

   to implant sound principles in a child's mind.

2. to plant securely.

3. Medicine/Medical. to insert or graft (a tissue, organ, or inert substance) into the body.

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noun

1. Medicine/Medical.

   1. any device or material, especially of an inert substance, used for repairing or replacing part of the body.

   2. medication or radioactive material inserted into tissue for sustained therapy.

   3. implantation.

2. Dentistry.

   1. an artificial tooth that has been inserted permanently into the jaw.

   2. a metal framework attached to the bones of the jaw for supporting artificial teeth.

implant British  

verb

1. to establish firmly; inculcate; instil

   to implant sound moral principles

2. to plant or embed; infix; entrench

3. surgery

   1. to graft (a tissue) into the body

   2. to insert (a radioactive substance, hormone, etc) into the tissues

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noun

1. anything implanted, esp surgically, such as a tissue graft or hormone

implant Scientific  

1. Something that is placed, usually surgically, within a living body, as grafted tissue or a medical device, such as a pacemaker.

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1. To become attached to and embedded in the maternal uterine lining. Used of a fertilized egg.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unimplanted
  adjective
• implanter
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has implanted
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have implanted
  perfect
• am implanting
  progressive 1st person singular
• implanting
  participle
• implants
  singular 3rd person
• have been implanting
  perfect progressive
• is implanting
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been implanting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are implanting
  progressive

Past

• had implanted
  perfect
• had been implanting
  perfect progressive
• was implanting
  progressive singular
• implanted
  participle
• implanted
  simple
• were implanting
  progressive plural

Future

• will implant
  simple
• will have implanted
  perfect
• will be implanting
  progressive
• will have been implanting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of implant

First recorded in 1535–45; im- ¹ + plant

Explanation

When you implant something, you place or embed it solidly: you might implant marbles in the damp concrete of a newly poured sidewalk, for example. There are a couple of different ways to implant something — the first is to physically fix an item deeply, the way you might implant a croquet wicket in the ground. A more figurative way to implant is to settle an idea into someone's mind. You could accidentally implant a fear of highway driving in your younger brother's mind, for example, by telling him stories of traffic accidents. Implant comes from the French word implanter, "to insert."

Example Sentences

Scientists have found that using a radioactive implant precisely where a tumor was removed in the brain can help patients get their cancer treated more quickly and in many cases, live longer.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

Trial data released in March found that the implant was just as effective at preventing strokes as standard daily blood thinners, and significantly safer when it came to bleeding risks.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

In January, Musk had said that Neuralink was waiting for regulatory approval to implant the BCI meant to restore patients’ vision.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

In Chloe’s case, she began the pregnancy process by contracting with a fertility clinic to implant an embryo conceived with Silvia’s egg and Fausto’s sperm.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

His practice was to implant the little microbiology stations in the Antarctic soil and return about a month later to retrieve them.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Related Words

• embed
• fix
• instill