implies

IPA/ɪmˈplaɪ/
KK[ˌɪmplˈaɪz]IPA/ɪmˈplaɪ/

implies — verb

  • impliespresent simple I / you / we / they
  • implieses3rd person singular
  • impliesing-ing form
  • impliesedpast simple

1. to hint at a thought, feeling, or fact through what you say or do, rather than s

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to hint at a thought, feeling, or fact through what you say or do, rather than stating it openly

例句

Tariq did not say he was angry, but his silence implied it clearly.

Amira's smile implied that she already knew about the surprise party.

imply + that-clause for communicating indirectly

同義詞
  • hint

    more casual and deliberate; often a small clue rather than a broader message

  • suggest

    slightly more direct; puts an idea forward for consideration

  • insinuate

    always negative; implies something unpleasant, critical, or accusing

  • intimate

    formal or literary; to make something known in a delicate, indirect way

反義詞
  • state

    to say something directly and clearly, with no hidden meaning

  • declare

    to announce formally and openly, leaving nothing unspoken

  • assert

    to state with confidence, removing any room for doubt

文法句型

imply + that-clause

imply + noun phrase

imply + (that)-clause without 'that'

用法筆記

Object is the message or feeling being hinted at, not the person spoken to. The subject does not have to be a person — a gesture, silence, or facial expression can also imply something.

常見錯誤

❌I inferred from her tone that she was unhappy' (when you meant that she hinted at it).
✅She implied she was unhappy.
💡The speaker implies; the listener infers. Do not confuse these two words.

2. if a word, name, or description implies something, the label itself carries extr

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

if a word, name, or description implies something, the label itself carries extra information about what it refers to

例句

The restaurant's name 'Ocean View' implies you can see the sea from your table.

name/label + implies + information about the thing named

The term 'smartphone' implies a device that does more than make calls.

同義詞
  • indicate

    more neutral and factual; points to evidence rather than carrying a suggestion

  • suggest

    close synonym in this sense; 'imply' is more often used when the label itself is the source

  • denote

    formal or technical; to be a direct sign or mark of something

文法句型

[name/term/label] + implies + [information]

用法筆記

Subject is almost always a name, term, title, label, or description. Distinguish from sense 1: here the meaning comes from the wording itself, not from tone, gesture, or behaviour.

3. if a situation, action, or fact implies something, that thing is a necessary par

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

if a situation, action, or fact implies something, that thing is a necessary part or result of it

例句

Buying a house implies years of loan payments and repair costs.

Accepting the promotion implies moving to the company's Tokyo office.

imply + gerund for a necessary consequence

同義詞
  • entail

    very close synonym; often used when the consequence is formal or burdensome

  • necessitate

    formal; stresses that something makes another thing unavoidable

  • involve

    broader; can include things that are part of a process, not only necessary outcomes

  • mean

    more informal and everyday; commonly used in speech for the same idea

文法句型

imply + that-clause

imply + gerund

imply + noun phrase

用法筆記

Subject is typically a situation, action, or state of affairs — not a person. Distinguish from sense 1: the implication here is a logical or necessary result, not a hinted message.