4 syllables: im, pli, cit, ly. Stress on pli.
im-PLIS-uht-lee
/ˌɪmˈplɪsətli/
implicitly is pronounced im-PLIS-uht-lee (/ˌɪmˈplɪsətli/). It has four syllables (im-pli-cit-ly), with the stress on "pli". Implicitly describes something not stated outright but implied by context. In usage, it modifies actions, beliefs, or assumptions inferred from surrounding information rather than explicit declaration. The adverb often appears in academic or analytical writing to indicate that a conclusion rests on suggestion rather than direct assertion.
Implicitly describes something not stated outright but implied by context. In usage, it modifies actions, beliefs, or assumptions inferred from surrounding information rather than explicit declaration. The adverb often appears in academic or analytical writing to indicate that a conclusion rests on suggestion rather than direct assertion.
"The contract implicitly allows for periodic inspections, even though it isn’t spelled out in the text."
"She implicitly trusted his judgment, choosing to follow his lead without verbal confirmation."
"The theory is implicitly tied to prior research, not proven in this single study."
/ˌɪm.plɪˈsɪt.li/ in US, UK, and AU. The primary stress falls on the second syllable of the stem (pli), giving 'im-PLI-sit-ly'. The sequence /plɪ/ should be crisp, with the following /ˈsɪt/ as a short, clear ‘sit’ sound. The final -ly is /li/ rather than /lɪ/ in careful speech. Ensure the /t/ is released (not skipped) and the /l/ is light, not dark-clustered. See audio resources for exact timing.
Common errors include: 1) misplacing stress as im-PLI-ci-tly (placing primary stress on the third syllable). 2) Run-together without the /t/ release: im-pli-si-ly. 3) Slurring /t/ into the following /l/ or turning /t/ into a flap in American rapid speech. Correction: keep the /t/ as a clear stop before /l/; say /ˌɪm.plɪˈsɪt.li/ with a crisp /t/ and light /l/.
In US, UK, AU, the core is /ˌɪmplɪˈsɪtli/. US often reduces vowel length and may pronounce the second syllable more sharply; UK tends to slightly longer vowels and clearer enunciation of /t/; AU can be more lenient with /t/ flapping in casual speech and sometimes a softer /l/; rhotics appear in US and AU accents. Overall, the main stress remains on 'pli', with minimal rhotic variation.
Three challenges: the multi-syllabic structure with four syllables, the near-stress on the 'pli' syllable, and the crisp /t/ before /li/. The sequence /plɪˈsɪt/ requires precise tongue placement: /p/ is bilabial, /l/ alveolar, /ɪ/ and /ɪ/ vowels, /t/ alveolar stop. Avoid excessive vowel length and ensure the final /li/ is not swallowed. Use slow practice to lock the cluster.
The unique feature is the /plɪ/ cluster after the initial /ɪm/. Many learners stress the wrong syllable or insert an extra vowel; keep the first syllable light and let the stress fall on 'pli', producing /ɪm.plɪˈsɪt.li/ with a distinct /t/ before the final /li/. Also ensure the final /li/ is a clean syllable, not a glide.
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implicitly derives from late Latin implicare, meaning to fold in or entangle; the English noun/adj form ‘implicit’ emerged in the 17th century, with -ly adverbial suffix forming 'implicitly' in the 17th–18th centuries as authors sought to denote manner of implication rather than direct statement. The root implic- comes from Latin words like implicare (to enfold, involve), which itself is composed of in- (in) and plicare (to fold). The shift from ‘implicit’ (unspoken, implied) to ‘implicitly’ (in an implicit manner) reflects a movement in scholarly and formal prose to qualify conclusions as arising from context or inference rather than explicit assertion. First known uses surface in philosophical and legal discourses where meaning rests on inference rather than declaration, becoming common in academic writing by the 19th century as methods of interpretation and analytic rigor matured.
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Words that rhyme with "implicitly"
-tly sounds
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