Imply Definition

ĭm-plī

implied, implies, implying

verb

implied, implies, implying

To have as a necessary part, condition, or effect; contain, include, or involve naturally or necessarily.

Drama implies conflict.

Webster's New World

To express or state indirectly.

She implied that she was in a hurry.

American Heritage

To indicate indirectly or by allusion; hint; suggest; intimate.

An attitude implying boredom.

Webster's New World

To involve by logical necessity; entail.

Life implies growth and death.

American Heritage

To enfold; entangle.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Imply

From Old French emplier, from Latin implicare (“to infold, involve”), from in (“in”) + plicare (“to fold”)

From Wiktionary
Middle English implien from Old French emplier to enfold from Latin implicāre implicate

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition