Implicit
/ɪmˈplɪsɪt/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Implicit describes ideas, feelings, or meanings that are understood without being openly stated. When something is implicit, it is not said clearly but is still known or understood by people. It can also mean something is involved or included as a natural part of something else without being obvious.
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See It in Action
Understood without being directly said
- •Her trust in him was implicit, even though she never said it.
- •There was implicit agreement between the friends to keep the secret.
- •The instructions had implicit meanings that were not written down.
Involved as a natural part of something
- •Danger is implicit in extreme sports.
- •The job has implicit responsibilities that are not listed in the contract.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "implicit" like "understood," but without saying it out loud or writing it down clearly
- ✓Picture a secret message hidden inside a letter—it's there, but you have to understand it without it being obvious
- ✓It's the feeling when someone nods quietly instead of saying "yes"—you understand their answer without words
- ✓Sounds like "im-PLIS-it" → imagine a puzzle piece that fits quietly inside a bigger picture, you see it but it’s not loud or clear
- ✓In stories, characters often have implicit feelings—they don’t say everything but you can guess what they feel
- ✓NOT like "explicit" (which means very clear and direct), implicit is quiet and indirect
- ✓NOT like "silent" (no sound or communication), implicit means communication is there but hidden or suggested
- ✓NOT like "hidden" (something you cannot see), implicit is more about meaning you can understand without being told
Try Other Words
- •Implied: suggested but not directly stated (Use when the meaning comes from hints or clues rather than clear words)
- •Tacit: understood without being spoken (Use in formal situations about agreements or feelings that are not said out loud)
- •Unspoken: not said but understood (Use when something is known but nobody says it)
Unboxing
- •Prefix "im-" means "in" or "not" (here it means "in" or "within")
- •Root "plic" comes from Latin "plicare," meaning "to fold" or "to bend"
- •Suffix "-it" turns the root into an adjective meaning "having the quality of"
- •From Latin "implicitus," meaning "entwined" or "folded in," suggesting something folded inside or included
- •First used in English in the 1600s to describe ideas or feelings that are involved or understood without being clear
- •Today, it is used to describe meanings, feelings, or agreements that are not said directly but understood
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when someone gave you an implicit message instead of saying something directly? How did you understand it?
•How is implicit meaning important in communication, especially when people want to be polite or careful?
Fill in the blanks
1.When she smiled quietly, her trust was implicit, even though she did not ___ it with words.
2.The rules had implicit ___ that everyone should follow, but they were not written down.
3.Unlike explicit instructions, implicit meanings are ___ said but still understood.
4.An implicit agreement means people agree without ___ anything out loud.
5.Danger is implicit in activities like skydiving because it is ___ part of the experience.
6.The teacher gave implicit ___ that the test would be hard by her serious tone.
7.When someone’s feelings are implicit, they are shown by actions or ___, not direct words.