implant

verb im·plant \ im-ˈplant \

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: implant in a Sentence

Definition of implant

implanted; implanting; implants

transitive verb

1 a : to fix or set securely or deeply

a ruby implanted in the idol's forehead

b : to set permanently in the consciousness or habit patterns : inculcate

2 : to insert in living tissue (as for growth, slow release, or formation of an organic union)

subcutaneously implanted hormone pellets

intransitive verb

: to undergo implantation

the failure of embryos to implant

—

implantable

play \im-ˈplan-tə-bəl\ adjective

—

implanter

play \im-ˈplan-tər\ noun

See implant defined for English-language learners

See implant defined for kids

Examples of implant in a Sentence

a hearing aid that is surgically implanted in the ear
a music teacher who strove to implant within his students a love of the classics

Recent Examples of implant from the Web

Having learned of Grey's accident, Keen offers to implant a computer chip in Grey's spine that can take control of his motor functions.

— ben sachs, Chicago Reader, "Upgrade is so derivative, it’s original," 14 June 2018
Ronaldlee Ejalu says his consent to implant an embryo is necessary, under a contract with a clinic.

— Fox News, "Judge declines to appoint guardian for frozen embryos," 13 June 2018
Over a five-year period, Macchiarini went on to implant the synthetic trachea in nine desperately ill patients.

— christopher hartnick, STAT, "Taking risks in pursuit of innovation is good. So is preparing for it," 7 June 2018
If the animals were subject to other stresses—one option is to implant electrodes elsewhere and give them a bit of a shock—this reflex could be sped up and the siphon would get withdrawn for longer periods.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "Researchers claim to have transferred a memory between two sea slugs," 16 May 2018
To successfully reconstruct a patient’s lost ear, Doctors at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas sculpted a new one from rib cartilage and implanted it under the tissues of the patient’s forearm to foster blood vessel growth.

— julissa treviño, Smithsonian, "Doctors ‘Grow’ Ear for Transplant in Patient’s Forearm," 16 May 2018
These are supposed to have been implanted by God and so natively obvious that all people sense them intrinsically.

— james pogue, Outside Online, "The Religious Ideology Driving the Bundy Brothers," 14 May 2018
This, apparently, could allow researchers to implant human consciousness into hosts or harvest the organs of hosts — but only for the people who are aware of such technology, which HaxDogma says is probably only about 1% of the population.

— refinery29.com, "This Westworld Theory About The Valley Beyond Could Change Everything," 12 May 2018
The surgery to implant the device should last no longer than 35 minutes and requires a single incision below the belt line, Sayet said.

— ron hurtibise, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Bluetooth-operated bionic sphincter controller close to human trial phase," 9 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'implant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of implant

15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

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implant Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of implant

implant, inculcate, instill, inseminate, infix mean to introduce into the mind. implant implies teaching that makes for permanence of what is taught.

- implanted a love of reading in her students

inculcate implies persistent or repeated efforts to impress on the mind.

- tried to inculcate in him high moral standards

instill stresses gradual, gentle imparting of knowledge over a long period of time.

- instill traditional values in your children

inseminate applies to a sowing of ideas in many minds so that they spread through a class or nation.

- inseminated an unquestioning faith in technology

infix stresses firmly inculcating a habit of thought.

- infixed a chronic cynicism

implant

noun im·plant \ ˈim-ˌplant \

Definition of implant

: something (such as a graft or device) implanted in tissue — compare cochlear implant

See implant defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of implant from the Web

Several companies in the U.S. make very good implants.

— orthocincy, Cincinnati.com, "Stem cell injections or knee replacement," 4 June 2018
And there are very practical challenges, like packaging connectors in implants.

— angela chen, The Verge, "Why it’s so hard to develop the right material for brain implants," 30 May 2018
Thousands of women received mesh implants to treat pelvic conditions including urinary incontinence, and sued the manufacturers after suffering from infections, bleeding and organ damage.

— l.m. sixel, San Antonio Express-News, "Private equity funds deploy new investment strategy: financing lawsuits," 29 May 2018
Major work like a crown or a bridge is often covered only at 50 percent; implants generally aren't covered at all.

— david tuller, CNN, "When is dentistry not medicine? When insurance is involved," 28 May 2018
Everything Mark Lanier argued to the jury in the Johnson & Johnson Pinnacle hip-implant trial was entirely accurate.

— WSJ, "The Fact Is the Hip Replacements Were Bad," 2 May 2018
Parasitic wasps implant eggs inside other insects, and when the eggs hatch the larvae feed on their host, in this case Number 16.

— leanda mason, National Geographic, "World’s Oldest Known Spider Dies at 43, With Lesson for Us," 30 Apr. 2018
Paralyzed during an attack in which his wife was killed, a man receives an AI implant that offers an experimental cure and allows him to pursue violent revenge.

— kate stanhope, latimes.com, "7 sci-fi films to see this summer," 26 Apr. 2018
On his own patients, Jones uses fat that's processed appropriately for safe and legal butt implants.

— lindsay weinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "Cardi B's Illegal Butt Injections Could Have Killed Her, Says Plastic Surgeon," 9 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of implant

1890

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

IMPLANT Defined for English Language Learners

implant

verb

Definition of implant for English Language Learners

: to put (something) in a specified place; especially medical : to place (something) in a person's body by means of surgery
: to cause (something) to become a part of the way a person thinks or feels

implant

noun

Definition of implant for English Language Learners

medical : something placed in a person's body by means of surgery

IMPLANT Defined for Kids

implant

verb im·plant \ im-ˈplant \

Definition of implant for Students

implanted; implanting

: to set securely or deeply Doctors implanted the hearing device.

Medical Dictionary

implant

transitive verb im·plant \ im-ˈplant \

medical Definition of implant

1 : to set permanently in the consciousness or habit patterns

2 a : to insert or fix in a living site (as for growth, slow release, or formation of an organic union)

subcutaneously implanted hormone pellets

b : to insert an implant in

100 patients have been implanted with nylon ribbons without complications
—U. K. Henschke

intransitive verb

: to undergo implantation : become implanted

failure of embryos to implant

implant

noun im·plant \ ˈim-ˌplant \

medical Definition of implant

: something (as a graft, a small container of radioactive material for treatment of cancer, or a pellet containing hormones to be gradually absorbed) that is implanted especially in tissue