implicate
Americanverb (used with object)
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implicates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
implicated,
past participle, past
-
implicating
present participle
-
to show to be also involved, usually in an incriminating manner.
to be implicated in a crime.
-
to imply as a necessary circumstance, or as something to be inferred or understood.
-
to connect or relate to intimately; affect as a consequence.
The malfunctioning of one part of the nervous system implicates another part.
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Archaic. to fold or twist together; intertwine; interlace.
verb
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to show to be involved, esp in a crime
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to involve as a necessary inference; imply
his protest implicated censure by the authorities
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to affect intimately
this news implicates my decision
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rare to intertwine or entangle
Synonym Usage
See involve.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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implicatesimple
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implicatessimple
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have implicatedperfect
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has implicatedperfect
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am implicatingprogressive
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are implicatingprogressive
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is implicatingprogressive
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have been implicatingperfect progressive
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has been implicatingperfect progressive
Past
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implicatedsimple
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had implicatedperfect
-
was implicatingprogressive
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were implicatingprogressive
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had been implicatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of implicate
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin implicātus, past participle of implicāre “to interweave,” equivalent to im- im- 1 + plicā(re) “to fold” + -ātus -ate 1; see ply 2
Explanation
The verb implicate means "to connect or involve in something." For example, your cousins might implicate you in the planning of a big party for your grandparents. Implicate comes from the Latin word implicare, meaning "to entwine, involve." When you implicate someone, you bring him or her into a group or to pitch in on a project. Implicate can have criminal connotations when it means "to connect in an incriminating manner," like when detectives figure out who drove the getaway car in the bank robbery — that person will be implicated for his or her role in the crime.
Vocabulary lists containing implicate
Just Mercy
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Monster
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Wasn't Me: The Lingo of Laying Blame
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He claimed the department sought to make an example of him because he refused to implicate his superiors in wrongdoing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
But the governor's former chief of staff and a longtime California political operative, Dana Williamson, pleaded guilty to federal charges in May over a campaign finance fraud scheme that did not implicate Newsom.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026
Although many people with security clearances are government employees, millions of private citizens also need clearances to work on military matters or to represent criminal defendants charged with crimes that implicate sensitive information.
From Slate ● May 15, 2026
The gaps do not diminish it; they implicate us in it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
“And implicate the rest of us? Himself, too?”
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Florian Zeller’s “Bunker” at least implicates its characters in the politics it professes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
But this division also implicates the nongladiatorial Roman citizens of all social strata.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
Nothing about Smith’s conduct implicates either the DOJ policy or the 60-day rule.
From Slate ● Oct. 18, 2024
Crucially, it further implicates the outstanding suspects and opens up evidential opportunities.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2024
Booth also has left behind clues—among them a business card bearing the name J. Harrison Surratt and a letter from Samuel Arnold, who had been part of the kidnapping plot, that implicates Michael O’Laughlen.
From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly
Still, the following year, Chi Phi, the fraternity implicated in the Jane Doe case, was among a half-dozen at Cornell found responsible for hazing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
However, Juve, AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and Reggina were all implicated in influencing referees.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Knight from 1977, the court ruled that the denial of a press pass implicated a First Amendment liberty interest.
From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2026
“There is a theoretically plausible benefit in that the vaccine does target IL-6, and IL-6 is implicated in heart disease, in the greater likelihood of having heart-disease events,” he said.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
Thus Mr. Curtain must know that Sticky lied, and no doubt Reynie had been implicated as his accomplice.
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson said the agency had investigated claims against Collins years ago “and ultimately found nothing implicating Senator Collins or Senator Collins’ campaign.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
Walters’ supporters further argue that Oxford’s statements implicating Walters—as well as Travis’ testimony against him—were tainted, the result of the men being coerced by police and angling for lighter sentences.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Sanft said there was no evidence implicating Davis in Shakur's murder other than his own statements.
From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026
When we later confronted Mr Ahmed in person he denied any involvement, but we have found significant evidence implicating him.
From BBC ● Dec. 6, 2025
After implicating Joe, McCants was sentenced as an adult to four-and-one-half years and served just six months.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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