connote

IPA/kəˈnəʊt/
KK[kənˈot]IPA/kəˈnəʊt/

connote — verb

  • connotepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • connoteshe / she / it
  • connotedpast simple
  • connoting-ing form

1. to carry a feeling, quality, or association beyond the basic definition of a ter

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to carry a feeling, quality, or association beyond the basic definition of a term, image, or event

例句

The word 'home' connotes warmth and safety, not just a building.

pattern: [word/term] + connotes + abstract quality

For Yuki, the colour red connotes good fortune and celebration.

同義詞
  • imply

    more commonly used for people hinting at something; connote is for what words and symbols carry

  • suggest

    broader in scope; can be used for people, evidence, or data

  • evoke

    emphasises bringing a feeling or memory vividly to mind

文法句型

connote + noun

用法筆記

Typically used of words, symbols, or cultural objects rather than people. The subject is usually the signifier (a word, image, or object), not the person interpreting it.

常見錯誤

❌The boss connoted that I was late.
✅The boss implied that I was late.
💡'connote' describes meanings carried by words and symbols, not what a person hints at. Use 'imply' when a person suggests something indirectly.
❌This data connotes we need more research.
✅This data suggests we need more research.
💡'connote' refers to secondary meanings attached to specific terms or images, not to general evidence pointing toward a conclusion.

2. to make something else necessarily true by the logic of what a word or statement

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to make something else necessarily true by the logic of what a word or statement means

例句

When the council called the cuts 'reform,' the word connoted that the old system had failed.

pattern: connote + that-clause

The label 'fresh' on food connotes that no chemicals were added.

同義詞
  • entail

    close synonym in logical contexts, but tends to be more formal

  • imply

    in logic, a technical near-synonym; broader in everyday use

  • presuppose

    assumes something as a prior condition rather than stating it as a result

文法句型

connote + noun

connote + that-clause

用法筆記

Often used in formal or academic contexts involving logical argument. Distinguish from sense 1 (CARRY ASSOCIATIONS): this sense involves a necessary logical link, not merely a cultural or emotional association.

常見錯誤

❌The contract connotes signing by Friday.
✅The contract requires signing by Friday.
💡'connote' in the logical sense refers to a condition implied by a term or concept, not a practical obligation stated outright.