implement

noun im·ple·ment \ ˈim-plə-mənt \

Definition of implement

1 :an article serving to equip

the implements of religious worship

2 :a device used in the performance of a task :tool, utensil

3 :one that serves as an instrument or tool

the partnership agreement does not seem to be a very potent implement
—H. B. Hoffman

See implement defined for English-language learners

See implement defined for kids

Examples of implement in a Sentence

They eat with us, do the beach with us; the girls, K.C. and Jessica, buy kitchen implements for us, come over to casually straighten up, make beds, clear the dishes from the sink and the bedrooms … —Dave Eggers, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, 2000
In the toolhouse … there were also antique implements worn like prehistoric artifacts: an ancient oblong pink whetstone pointed at either end and soapily warped by all its use, and an old-fashioned square hoe worn into a lopsided metal oval … —John Updike, The Afterlife, 1994
There was a little implement called a lemon zester that she had bought from a door-to-door salesman. —Ann Beattie, New Yorker, 28 Dec. 1987
stone implements used in prehistoric times
a sharp-edged implement used to chop wood

Recent Examples of implement from the Web

Some of those implements are demonstrated in Pioneer Village to the delight of older visitors, who also will appreciate the antique tractors, woodworking and quilting.

— dawn mitchell, Indianapolis Star, "RetroIndy: 10 nostalgic things to see and do at the Indiana State Fair," 11 Aug. 2017
The Indian air force, then, constitutes another implement of Indian sea power.

— chicagotribune.com, "Who will win The Sino-Indian naval war of 2020?," 7 Aug. 2017
Implement low income solar energy policy allowing residents to sell energy back to DTE Energy.

— katrease stafford, Detroit Free Press, "Jobs, high tech transportation focus of Coleman Young II's plan for Detroit," 10 July 2017
Winter turned to spring, and then spring turned to summer, and your body knew what to do, perhaps without your brain even explicitly thinking it: Pack up the sledding implements, clean out the yard, and go to Home Depot to buy a grill.

— kenzie bryant, Vanities, "Lady Gaga Calls Off Her Twitter Army That Attacked Ed Sheeran for Basically No Reason," 5 July 2017
Winter turned to spring, and then spring turned to summer, and your body knew what to do, perhaps without your brain even explicitly thinking it: Pack up the sledding implements, clean out the yard, and go to Home Depot to buy a grill.

— vanityfair.com, "Lady Gaga Calls Off Her Twitter Army That Attacked Ed Sheeran for Basically No Reason," 5 July 2017
Internal doors controlled by security-system locks had to be propped open by trash cans and other improvised implements, a source familiar with the incident said.

— vinny vella, Courant Community, "Power Outage Disrupts 911 System in Hartford Over Weekend," 26 June 2017
Dogs and other digging animals and yard implements such as lawn mowers pose a threat to baby bunnies during their initial development.

— max londberg, kansascity.com, "After Waldo woman’s dog massacred bunny family, more babies born and survived her yard," 16 June 2017
But with China maintaining strict control on firearms, most of the other attacks have involved knives or other sharp implements, such as last year’s attack on an elementary school in northern China that left seven children wounded.

— simon denyer, Washington Post, "China police blame lone bomber for killing 8 at kindergarten gate," 16 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of implement

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin implementum action of filling up, from Latin implēre to fill up, from in- + plēre to fill — more at full

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

implement Synonyms

Synonyms

device, instrument, tool, utensil

Related Words

apparatus, appliance, mechanism; contraption, contrivance, gadget, gizmo (also gismo), jigger; accessory (also accessary), accoutrement (or accouterment), adjunct, appendage, attachment

Synonym Discussion of implement

implement, tool, instrument, appliance, utensil mean a relatively simple device for performing work. implement may apply to anything necessary to perform a task.

- crude stone implements
- farm implements

tool suggests an implement adapted to facilitate a definite kind or stage of work and suggests the need of skill more strongly than implement.

- a carpenter's tools

instrument suggests a device capable of delicate or precise work.

- the dentist's instruments

appliance refers to a tool or instrument utilizing a power source and suggests portability or temporary attachment.

- household appliances

utensil applies to a device used in domestic work or some routine unskilled activity.

- kitchen utensils

implement

verb im·ple·ment \ ˈim-plə-ˌment \

Definition of implement

transitive verb

1 :carry out, accomplish; especially :to give practical effect to and ensure of actual fulfillment by concrete measures

2 :to provide instruments or means of expression for

—

implementation

play \ˌim-plə-mən-ˈtā-shən, -ˌmen-\ noun

—

implementer

or implementor play \ˈim-plə-ˌmen-tər\ noun

See implement defined for English-language learners

Examples of implement in a Sentence

A federal interagency group should develop and implement a risk management strategy to reduce human exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like chemicals in food, says a report from the Institute of Medicine … —Bette Hileman, Chemical & Engineering News, 7 July 2003
… drew scattered snickers when he implemented a dress code for Senate staffers … —Michelle Cottle, New Republic, 12 July 1999
States remain years behind in implementing child support regulations … —New York Times, 30 Dec. 1997
I wondered how I might best implement his plan.
Due to high costs, the program was never fully implemented.