{
    "term": "imply",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "academic": true,
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "imply",
            "heSheIt": "implies"
        },
        "pastSimple": "implied",
        "pastParticiple": "implied",
        "ingForm": "implying"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to suggest that something is true or that you feel or think something, without saying so directly",
            "sensetop": "imply (that)…imply somethingit is implied that…",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Are you implying (that) I am wrong?",
                    "contextForm": "imply (that)…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "His silence **seemed to imply** agreement.",
                    "contextForm": "imply something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "High-yield bonds, as the name implies, offer a high rate of interest."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It was implied that we were at fault.",
                    "contextForm": "it is implied that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I never meant to imply any criticism."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The article falsely implied that he was responsible for the accident."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The letter seems to imply that the minister knew about the business deals."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This statement should not be taken to imply that the government is exonerated of all blame."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["clearly", "heavily", "strongly"],
                "verb + imply": ["seem to", "intend to", "mean to"],
                "phrases": ["express or implied", "real or implied"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to make it seem likely that something is true or exists",
            "sensetop": "imply (that)…it is implied that…imply something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The survey implies (that) more people are moving house than was thought.",
                    "contextForm": "imply (that)…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It was implied in the survey that…",
                    "contextForm": "it is implied that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Popularity **does not necessarily imply** merit.",
                    "contextForm": "imply something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The fact that she was here implies a degree of interest."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The statement logically implies a certain conclusion."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They believe that submission in no way implies inferiority."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Campaigners said the data implies the existence of ‘a pressing social need’."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "suggest",
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["clearly", "heavily", "strongly"],
                "verb + imply": ["seem to", "intend to", "mean to"],
                "phrases": ["express or implied", "real or implied"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to make something necessary in order to be successful",
            "sensetop": "imply something",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The project implies an enormous investment in training."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Sustainable development implies a long-term perspective."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "mean",
            "topics": ["Change, cause and effect"]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪmˈplaɪ/",
                "audio": "im/imply/imply__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪmˈplaɪz/",
                "audio": "im/imply/implies__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪmˈplaɪd/",
                "audio": "im/imply/implied__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪmˈplaɪɪŋ/",
                "audio": "im/imply/implying__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪmˈplaɪ/",
                "audio": "im/imply/imply__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪmˈplaɪz/",
                "audio": "im/imply/implies__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪmˈplaɪd/",
                "audio": "im/imply/implied__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪmˈplaɪɪŋ/",
                "audio": "im/imply/implying__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: from Old French emplier, from Latin implicare, from in- ‘in’ + plicare ‘to fold’. The original sense was ‘entwine’; in the 16th and 17th cents the word also meant ‘employ’. Compare with employ and implicate."
}