imply

American  

[im-plahy] / ɪmˈplaɪ /

verb (used with object)

• implies,
  present (3rd person singular)
• implied,
  past participle,  past
• implying
  present participle

1. to indicate or suggest without being explicitly stated.

   His words implied a lack of faith.

2. (of words) to signify or mean.

3. to involve as a necessary circumstance.

   Speech implies a speaker.

   Synonyms:

   demand, require

4. Obsolete. to enfold.

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imply British  

/ ɪmˈplaɪ /

verb

1. to express or indicate by a hint; suggest

   what are you implying by that remark?

2. to suggest or involve as a necessary consequence

3. logic to enable (a conclusion) to be inferred

4. obsolete to entangle or enfold

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Usage

See infer.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• reimply
  verb (used with object)
• superimply
  verb (used with object)

Inflected Forms

Participles

• implying
  present
• implied
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• imply
  simple
• implies
  simple
• have implied
  perfect
• has implied
  perfect
• am implying
  progressive
• are implying
  progressive
• is implying
  progressive
• have been implying
  perfect progressive
• has been implying
  perfect progressive

Past

• implied
  simple
• had implied
  perfect
• was implying
  progressive
• were implying
  progressive
• had been implying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will imply
  simple
• will have implied
  perfect
• will be implying
  progressive
• will have been implying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of imply

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English implien, emplien, from Middle French emplier, from Latin implicāre; see implicate

Explanation

Imply means to express, suggest, or show something without stating it directly: A friend’s gruff manner would imply that she’s in a foul mood. The verb imply comes from a Latin word meaning “enfold or entangle” but has come to mean “to hint at.” You might imply something that you don’t want to outright say if you’re feeling coy. If you don’t call someone back after she leaves eight messages, you imply that you don’t want to chat. When you make a subtle suggestion, you imply.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

imply implies implied implying

"While these are merely requests and do not imply that visitors will be forcibly asked to leave, we earnestly ask for your understanding of the intent behind these guidelines and your cooperation," its statement said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

Any beat in catastrophes would imply upside relative to guidance, they add.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

And to imply that all editors are psychotic, it’s just nonsensical.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Similarly, he argues that: ”The trajectory of wage growth in Japan continues to imply much higher services inflation over the coming years and, with it, sticky JGB yields.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

What does it imply if the same crop has been repeatedly and independently domesticated in several different parts of its wild range, and not just once and in a single area?

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

“Revenue growth rates had accelerated for five straight quarters going back to summer 2025,” Lango said, adding that third-quarter revenue guidance implies a deceleration in growth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

His $641 price target implies about 34% upside from current levels.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

“Gen Z” implies something intrinsic about the people.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

"This implies that viviparity among early cynodonts originated in the mammalian lineage at least 95 to 90 million years earlier than previously thought."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026

The secrecy of weapons development, carried to especially extravagant lengths in the Soviet Union, implies that individuals so employed need almost never accept responsibility for their actions.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Even the handful of beautiful, hand-painted practical backgrounds seem to be laden with implied allegory.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

Here’s the list, sorted by 12-month upside potential implied by the analysts’ consensus price targets:

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

Smith also implied that instead of being hammered by the NABJ, he should be celebrated because he is about to be inducted into the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

In contrast, eurozone money-market pricing implied an 84% chance of the European Central Bank lifting rates again in September, with 38 basis points of rate increases priced in by December.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

If, as seemed likely, it recorded when the stela was put on display, this implied that Tres Zapotes had been a going concern in 32 b.c.—centuries before any other known Maya site.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow was "semi-routine," while implying that the intelligence chief was in the Russian capital to discuss the Ukraine war.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

"In one of our strains, we saw that offspring from older mothers had a longer lifespan, implying a genetic mechanism may be involved in that beneficial effect."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 19, 2026

Unitree has raised $900 million after pricing shares at 150.80 yuan apiece, implying a valuation of about $9.1 billion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Moerdler raised his price target to $660 from $647 previously, implying a 27x forward multiple and room for the stock to run more than 30% higher from current levels.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

Smith, his nerves at the breaking point, made an ominous statement implying that there would be no match race, then led the horse out.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Related Words

• entail
• hint
• involve
• mention
• signify
• suggest