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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Imply Definition, Usage, and Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：suggest indirectly (imply)

imply 🔊

/ɪmˈplaɪ/

To suggest something or show an idea without saying it directly.

Person implying something indirectly with thoughtful expression

suggest indirectly 🔊

➕

/səˈdʒɛst ˌɪndəˈrɛktli/

To express or indicate something in a subtle or indirect way without stating it explicitly.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'implicare' (to entangle, involve), from 'in-' (in) + 'plicare' (to fold).

💡 Mnemonic

Imply = 'in' + 'ply' (fold). Picture folding a hidden message inside words.

📖 Example

The teacher's question implied that the student's answer was not entirely correct. 🔊 The teacher's question suggested indirectly that the student's answer was not entirely correct.

🔗 Collocations

imply something – to suggest something without saying it directly

imply that – to indicate that something is true without stating it directly

strongly imply – to very clearly suggest something indirectly

🔄 Synonyms

hint (v.) – to suggest something in a subtle or indirect way

insinuate (v.) – to suggest something unpleasant or negative in a sly way

suggest (v.) – to put forward an idea for consideration

🚫 Antonyms

state (v.) – to express something clearly and directly

declare (v.) – to announce something formally or explicitly

🌱 Derivatives

implication (n.) – something that is implied or suggested

implicit (adj.) – suggested but not directly expressed

implicative (adj.) – tending to imply something

📖 Cultural Story

Imply comes from Latin 'implicare', meaning 'to fold in'. It evolved through Old French to English, shifting from 'entangle' to 'involve' and finally to 'suggest indirectly' in the 16th century.

Meaning 2：mean necessarily (imply)

imply 🔊

/ɪmˈplaɪ/

To mean something as a necessary result or natural consequence of something else.

Cause and effect diagram showing imply as logical consequence

mean necessarily 🔊

➕

/miːn ˌnɛsəˈsɛrəli/

To involve or indicate something as a necessary result or logical consequence of something else.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

His constant cough and fever implied that he was catching a cold. 🔊 His constant cough and fever indicated that he was catching a cold.

🔗 Collocations

imply a result – to indicate a particular outcome as a consequence

logically imply – to follow as a logical conclusion

imply consequences – to involve certain outcomes

🔄 Synonyms

entail (v.) – to involve something as a necessary part or consequence

involve (v.) – to include something as a necessary element

signify (v.) – to be a sign or indication of something

🚫 Antonyms

preclude (v.) – to prevent something from happening or being possible

exclude (v.) – to not include something as a possibility

🌱 Derivatives

implication (n.) – a possible future effect or result

implied (adj.) – suggested as a logical consequence