imply

imply — verb

1. to express a thought, feeling, or fact in an indirect way — for example, by your

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to express a thought, feeling, or fact in an indirect way — for example, by your choice of words or your tone of voice, without stating the message in plain terms.

例句

Linh was quiet, but her careful silence implied she was disappointed with the outcome.

silence implied — inanimate subject for indirect communication

The shift supervisor's stern tone implied that Yael was in trouble for being late.

implied + that-clause for warning through tone

同義詞
  • suggest

    Less directed than 'imply'; 'suggest' can be a gentle proposal or recommendation rather than a hidden message.

  • hint at

    More deliberate and playful than 'imply'; often used when giving clues in a light or indirect way.

  • insinuate

    Has a negative connotation of slyly suggesting something unpleasant or damaging about someone.

反義詞
  • state

    To express something clearly and directly, the opposite of implying.

  • declare

    To say something in a formal or emphatic way, leaving no room for doubt.

文法句型

imply + that-clause

imply + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently used with a that-clause ('imply that...'). The subject is typically a person, their words, their behaviour, or a situation. Distinguish from 'infer': a speaker implies, but a listener infers. The famous memory aid is 'the implier sends the message; the inferrer receives it.'

常見錯誤

❌What are you inferring by that remark?
✅What are you implying by that remark?
💡The person speaking implies; the person listening infers.
❌He implied to leave the party early.
✅He implied that he wanted to leave the party early.
💡'imply' cannot be followed directly by an infinitive.

2. used when a name, title, or description reveals a quality or fact about the thin

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

used when a name, title, or description reveals a quality or fact about the thing it refers to — the label itself carries information beyond its literal meaning.

例句

The term 'starter home' implies a small house for people buying their first property.

term + implies + noun phrase for meaning carried by a label

Getting the job title 'assistant manager' implies that you will help a senior executive run the department.

同義詞
  • indicate

    More factual than 'imply'; 'indicate' suggests the label points to an objective fact rather than carrying an implied meaning.

  • suggest

    Softens the claim; 'suggest' is often used when the label hints at a quality but does not prove it.

  • connote

    More formal and technical; 'connote' refers specifically to the associated or emotional meanings a word carries beyond its literal sense.

文法句型

[name/label] + implies + [that-clause]

[name/label] + implies + [noun phrase]

用法筆記

The subject is almost always a word, term, name, title, or label — not a person. Commonly follows the pattern '[Name/Label] implies [that]...' This sense is distinct from Sense 1, which involves a person's deliberate choice to communicate indirectly.

常見錯誤

❌The name of the street implies that the area used to be farmland.
✅The name of the street suggests that the area used to be farmland.
💡'Imply' with a name suggests the name itself carries evidence; 'suggest' is more neutral and common in everyday description.

3. to involve or require something as an essential part of a situation, so that the

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to involve or require something as an essential part of a situation, so that the first thing cannot exist or happen without the second following as a necessary consequence.

例句

Accepting a job in another city implies relocating your whole household.

accepting + [gerund] + implies + [gerund] for logical necessity

The new trade agreement implies lower taxes on imported goods, which should benefit small businesses.

agreement + implies + noun phrase for economic consequence

同義詞
  • entail

    More formal than 'imply'; 'entail' emphasises that something is an unavoidable part of a process or arrangement.

  • involve

    Broader than 'imply'; 'involve' includes things that are part of a situation but not always a strict consequence.

  • require

    Stronger than 'imply'; 'require' suggests a rule or necessity, while 'imply' suggests a logical connection.

反義詞
  • rule out

    To make something impossible, the opposite of making it necessary.

  • preclude

    Formal term meaning to prevent something from happening, the reverse of requiring it.

文法句型

[situation/action] + implies + [gerund phrase]

[situation/action] + implies + that-clause

用法筆記

Often appears with a gerund ('implies doing something') or a that-clause. The relationship is one of logical necessity, not suggestion: if A happens, B is a required consequence. This sense is common in formal, legal, and academic writing. Compare with Sense 1, where the implication is a person's choice, not a logical demand.

常見錯誤

❌A university degree implies a good salary.
✅A university degree often leads to a better salary, but it does not guarantee one.
💡'imply' in this sense means a necessary consequence, not a common correlation.
❌The dark clouds imply rain.
✅The dark clouds suggest rain.
💡Use 'imply' for logical certainty, not for weather prediction.