imply Definition
- 1strongly suggest the truth or existence of (something not expressly stated)
- 2indicate the truth or existence of (something) by suggestion rather than explicit reference
Using imply: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "imply" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Are you implying that I'm lying?
Example
His silence implied agreement.
Example
The tone of his voice implies that he is angry.
Example
The article implies that the company is in financial trouble.
imply Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using imply
Example
The memo didn't say anything directly, but if you read between the lines, it was clear that layoffs were coming.
Example
When he didn't show up for work and didn't answer his phone, we put two and two together and realized he must be sick.
to accept something as true without considering any hidden meaning or motive
Example
He said he was too busy to come, so I took it at face value and didn't think anything of it.
Phrases with imply
Example
She went ahead with the project, implying consent from her boss.
Example
His comments were full of implications, implying criticism of the team's performance.
suggesting or indicating accountability or obligation without explicitly stating it
Example
The report implies responsibility on the part of the management for the company's losses.
Origins of imply
from Old French 'emplier', meaning 'to enfold, entangle, involve'
Summary: imply in Brief
To 'imply' [ɪmˈplaɪ] is to strongly suggest or indicate the truth or existence of something without explicitly stating it. It can be used to suggest agreement, criticism, or responsibility, as in 'She went ahead with the project, implying consent from her boss.' 'Imply' is often used in phrases like 'read between the lines,' which means to infer a meaning that is not explicitly stated, and 'put two and two together,' which means to draw an obvious conclusion from the information given.
