implement
Americannoun
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implements
plural
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any article used in some activity, especially an instrument, tool, or utensil.
agricultural implements.
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an article of equipment, as household furniture, clothing, ecclesiastical vestments, or the like.
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a means; agent.
human beings as an implement of divine plan.
verb (used with object)
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implements,
present (3rd person singular)
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implemented,
past participle, past
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implementing
present participle
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to fulfill; perform; carry out.
Once in office, he failed to implement his campaign promises.
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to put into effect according to or by means of a definite plan or procedure.
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Computers. to realize or instantiate (an element in a program), often under certain conditions as specified by the software involved.
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to fill out or supplement.
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to provide with implements.
noun
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a piece of equipment; tool or utensil
gardening implements
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something used to achieve a purpose; agent
verb
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to carry out; put into action; perform
to implement a plan
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archaic to complete, satisfy, or fulfil
Usage
What are other ways to say implement? The word implement broadly refers to any article used in some activity. When should you use this noun over tool, instrument, or utensil? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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implementationnoun
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implementernoun
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implementornoun
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nonimplementnoun
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reimplementverb (used with object)
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implementableadjective
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implementaladjective
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nonimplementaladjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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implementsimple
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implementssimple
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have implementedperfect
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has implementedperfect
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am implementingprogressive
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are implementingprogressive
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is implementingprogressive
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have been implementingperfect progressive
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has been implementingperfect progressive
Past
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implementedsimple
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had implementedperfect
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was implementingprogressive
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were implementingprogressive
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had been implementingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of implement
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Late Latin implēmentum “a filling up,” equivalent to Latin implē(re) “to fill up” ( im- im- 1 + plēre “to fill” ) + -mentum -ment
Explanation
Apply the noun implement when you want to use a fancy word for "tool." A knife and fork are implements for handling food. The noun implement is a very useful word for just about anything you want to describe as a tool or a thing that helps you do something. An implement can be as simple as chimpanzees using a stick to eat ants with or a bulldozer that moves huge amounts of earth in building. The word relates to something that "fills up" a house, as in all sorts of things that allow a house to work properly.
Vocabulary lists containing implement
Essential English Vocabulary, List 1
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"A Retrieved Reformation" by O. Henry
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30 GRE Words Beginning with "I"
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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:
County voters are being asked to fill in gaps to implement previously approved ethics reforms and fix a goof that invalidated a jail alternatives proposal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
"This should ease the immediate pressure on the ECB to implement further monetary tightening at its next meeting," said Dirk Schumacher, chief economist at the German public lender KfW.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
“Under increasingly challenging conditions, we have defined measures to reposition ourselves and will implement them with strong momentum,” Nedeljkovic added.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
Altman said that users can customize instructions and implement custom rules that prohibit what Dots are capable of.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
“Build a shorter implement shed over the old brickyard, and leave Effie Wilcox’s house be.”
From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck
The logistics company says it expects roughly $25 million in incremental driver-related costs this quarter, as it ramps up hiring, implements sign-on bonuses and institutes pay raises.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Legendary US designer Ralph Lauren on Wednesday kicked off New York Fashion Week with his namesake brand's Spring/Summer 2027 collection, as the industry showcase implements its first full ban on fur on the runway.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
With this tool, early humans could create and maintain stone implements that were more carefully shaped and complex than those produced by some other prehistoric populations living during the same period.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
The project is one of the major street redesigns moving forward as Los Angeles implements Measure HLA.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
The room smelled of metal shavings mixed with whatever grease was used in the lathes and other implements that I never learned to use.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
The measure also states it “should be interpreted and implemented to afford the fullest possible weight to the interest of, and the approval and realization of, essential projects.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
The regulator has a proposed debt relief scheme on the table, and campaigners keep telling them to get on with it, urging the government to provide funding for it to be implemented.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
"One of the exciting aspects of this work is that we're studying interventions that could potentially be implemented not only in hospitals but also at home," Hablitz said.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 28, 2026
But it was never fully implemented, leaving around one million people unable to return to their homes.
From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026
However, widespread local mistrust of the regime in Alexandria prevented the new calendar from being wholly implemented.
From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro
In Conwy, council members also chose to defer a decision on implementing the levy until "further evidence and practical experience are available".
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
“We should be implementing practices and approaches that support child outcomes,” said Luis Bautista, executive director of L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
Looking ahead, Thor Industries will continue taking steps to restructure its business, implementing initiatives to protect consumer prices, manage production, grow its owned-supplier business and optimize its structure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
“I’m more interested in implementing more processes that allow for meaningful oversight, and if that results in things slowing down, that’d be great.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026
During his second term in office, Comrade E. M. S. went about implementing the Peaceful Transition more soberly.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
