Implement is a verb meaning to put a plan, idea, or system into practical effect or action. It often refers to carrying out or enforcing procedures, policies, or tools. In technology contexts, it denotes converting design specifications into working software or hardware. The term emphasizes execution and operationalization.
"We decided to implement the new scheduling algorithm next quarter."
"The company will implement the policy across all departments."
"Engineers implemented a patch to fix the security vulnerability."
"She implemented the feedback from users to improve the interface."
Implement comes from the late Middle English form implementen, from Old French emprunter? Not quite—[note: actual etymology: Latin implementum ‘a filling up, a filling in; instrument, means, utensil,’ from Latin implēre ‘to fill in’]. The modern sense of putting into effect evolved in English from the idea of supplying what is needed to accomplish a task, i.e., furnishing the means or instruments. The root impl- stems from Latin in- 'in, into' combined with plēre 'to fill', signaling the notion of equipping or provisioning for action. By the 15th–16th centuries, English used implement in the sense of “a tool or instrument,” and by the 17th–18th centuries the verb sense “to carry out or put into effect” emerges more prominently in bureaucratic and technical usage. In contemporary usage, implement often pairs with policy, plan, or system, and is common in business, IT, engineering, and project management. First known use as a noun/tool likely predates verb usage, but the verb sense solidified with the rise of organized implementation practices in modern administrative language.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Implement" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Implement"
-ent sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Break it as im-PLI-ment with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US ɪmˈplɛmpt, UK ɪmˈplɛmpt, AU ɪmˈplɛmpt. Start with a short i sound, then a light ‘m’ consonant cluster, followed by the stressed ‘-plem-’ with a clear ‘e’ like ‘eh,’ and end with ‘-nt’ as a nasal stop. Keep the tongue close to the roof of the mouth for the ‘pl’ blend, and transition quickly into the syllable-final ‘ment’ without adding extra vowels. Visualize a quick chest-high pitch rise on the stressed syllable to signal emphasis in speech.
Common errors include de-emphasizing the second syllable (im-PLempt vs. im-PLI-ment), over-lengthening the second vowel, or blending the final /t/ too softly. Some speakers insert an extra vowel before the final /t/, saying ‘im-plee-ment’ or ‘im-ple-ment.’ The fix is to keep the vowel in the stressed syllable short and crisp (ɪ or ɪm), ensure the /pl/ sequence is a clean stop+lip blend, and end with a crisp, unreleased /t/. Practice with a quick, two-syllable rhythm: im-PLĔMPT, then add the final t quickly.
In US, the second syllable carries primary stress with a sharp /ˈplɛm/ and the final /t/ is often released. In UK, the /ɪmˈplɛmpt/ maintains similar stress but the vowel may be slightly more centralized and the final /t/ can be more clearly released in careful speech. In Australian English, you may hear a quick, clipped /ɪmˈplɛmpt/ with a slightly more lenient vowel quality and potential non-rhoticity influencing surrounding vowels. Across all, stress remains on the second syllable, but vowel quality and final consonant release can vary with rhythm and speed.
The difficulty lies in the secondary consonant cluster /mpl/ in the onset of the stressed syllable and the abrupt transition into the /l/ sound within a short vowel frame. Many learners also misplace stress, either delaying the peak or moving it to the first syllable. Another challenge is pronouncing the final /t/ crisply in connected speech without adding an extra vowel. Focusing on a tight /mpl/ blend, exact vowel length in the first two syllables, and a clean, unreleased final /t/ helps you sound natural across accents.
No silent letters in the standard pronunciation of implement. The word uses all the letters in typical spelling-to-sound mapping: /ɪmˈplɛmpt/. The challenge is not silent letters but the rapid, smooth transition between the /m/ and /pl/ cluster and delivering a crisp final /t/. In careful speech you’ll hear full articulation of /pl/ and unreleased or lightly released final /t/.
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