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Imply vs Reply - What's the difference?

imply | reply |

As verbs the difference between imply and reply

is that imply is (of a proposition) to have as a necessary consequence while reply is (intransitive) to give a written or spoken response, especially to a question, request, accusation or criticism; to answer.

As a noun reply is

a written or spoken response; part of a conversation.

imply

English

Verb

(en-verb)
  • (of a proposition) to have as a necessary consequence
    • The proposition that "all dogs are mammals" implies that my dog is a mammal
  • (of a person) to suggest by logical inference
    • When I state that your dog is brown, I am not implying that all dogs are brown
  • (of a person or proposition) to hint; to insinuate; to suggest tacitly and avoid a direct statement
    • What do you mean "we need to be more careful with hygiene"? Are you implying that I don't wash my hands?
  • (archaic) to enfold, entangle.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , I.iv:
    • And in his bosome secretly there lay / An hatefull Snake, the which his taile vptyes / In many folds, and mortall sting implyes .

    Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) . See

    Synonyms

    * (to have as a necessary consequence) entail * (to suggest tacitly) allude, hint, insinuate, suggest

    Related terms

    * implicate * implication * implicative * implicit * implicitness * implision

    See also

    * connotation * entail

    External links

    * *

    reply

    English

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • (intransitive) To give a written or spoken response, especially to a question, request, accusation or criticism; to answer.
    • Please reply to my letter.
    "Sorry I'm late," replied the student.
    He replied that he was not sure.
  • To act or gesture in response.
    • Joanne replied to Pete's insult with a slap to his face.
  • * 1988 , Emmanuel Doe Ziorklui, Ghana: Nkrumah to Rawlings
    • It is a sound to be dreaded until you ascertain that it is being made by friendly forces; even then, your welcome to it must be tempered with some caution, because gunfire usually leads to replying gunfire
  • To repeat something back; to echo.

    • Synonyms

    * respond, answer, retort, answer back, react, rejoin, counter, return, revert, follow up, get back to

    Noun

    (replies)
  • A written or spoken response; part of a conversation.
  • Something given in reply.

    • Synonyms

    * answer, comeback, response, retort, return, account, rejoinder, riposte, reaction

    Anagrams

    * English reporting verbs 1000 English basic words