Main Entry:

im·ply

Pronunciation:

\im-ˈplī\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

im·plied; im·ply·ing

Etymology:

Middle English emplien, from Anglo-French emplier to entangle — more at employ

Date:

14th century

1obsolete : enfold, entwine2: to involve or indicate by inference, association, or necessary consequence rather than by direct statement <rights imply obligations>3: to contain potentially4: to express indirectly <his silence implied consent>

synonyms see suggest

usage see infer