Dictionary.com Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

implement

American  
[im-pluh-muhnt, im-pluh-ment, -muhnt] / ˈɪm plə mənt, ˈɪm pləˌmɛnt, -mənt /

noun

implements plural
  1. any article used in some activity, especially an instrument, tool, or utensil.

    agricultural implements.

  2. an article of equipment, as household furniture, clothing, ecclesiastical vestments, or the like.

  3. a means; agent.

    human beings as an implement of divine plan.


verb (used with object)

implements, present (3rd person singular) implemented, past participle, past implementing present participle
  1. to fulfill; perform; carry out.

    Once in office, he failed to implement his campaign promises.

  2. to put into effect according to or by means of a definite plan or procedure.

  3. Computers. to realize or instantiate (an element in a program), often under certain conditions as specified by the software involved.

  4. to fill out or supplement.

  5. to provide with implements.

implement British  

noun

  1. a piece of equipment; tool or utensil

    gardening implements

  2. something used to achieve a purpose; agent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to carry out; put into action; perform

    to implement a plan

  2. archaic to complete, satisfy, or fulfil

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What are other ways to say implement? The word implement broadly refers to any article used in some activity. When should you use this noun over tool, instrument, or utensil? Learn more on Thesaurus.com. 

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of implement

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Late Latin implēmentum “a filling up,” equivalent to Latin implē(re) “to fill up” ( im- im- 1 + plēre “to fill” ) + -mentum -ment

Explanation

Apply the noun implement when you want to use a fancy word for "tool." A knife and fork are implements for handling food. The noun implement is a very useful word for just about anything you want to describe as a tool or a thing that helps you do something. An implement can be as simple as chimpanzees using a stick to eat ants with or a bulldozer that moves huge amounts of earth in building. The word relates to something that "fills up" a house, as in all sorts of things that allow a house to work properly.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing implement

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Measures to limit the level of "forever chemicals" in Jersey's water could cost more than £200m and take years to implement, Jersey Water says.

From BBC Jul. 21, 2026

The National Park Service announced in February — after the agency under the Biden administration studied extensively how to best implement a reservation system — that officials would instead use “targeted management.”

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 21, 2026

Yet its authority is not self-executing: It relies on lower courts to implement its decisions, extend their logic, and normalize the resulting excesses.

From Slate Jul. 17, 2026

Economists have long called on Beijing to implement deep reforms to rebalance China’s economy and reduce reliance on manufacturing.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 16, 2026

He remained in the army, helping to implement Reconstruction policies that guaranteed the black vote.

From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly

The project is one of the major street redesigns moving forward as Los Angeles implements Measure HLA.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 17, 2026

A number of items listed on the charge sheet including Le Creuset and Joseph Joseph kitchen implements, an Alessi teapot and various Molton Brown toiletries were found inside the vehicle.

From BBC Jun. 23, 2026

If he implements pro-market reforms, economic growth will take care of the rest.

From The Wall Street Journal May 22, 2026

Such observations could help California decide where to prioritize Joshua tree conservation as it implements a sweeping plan to protect the plants from climate threats.

From Los Angeles Times May 19, 2026

Bass and the other archaeologists concluded the merchant captain of the ship used these broken implements as scrap bronze, which he or someone else could melt down to make brand-new tools.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

Three days after the executive order, the White House implemented the order through National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, which converts the fiction into machinery.

From Salon Jul. 23, 2026

"When the right decision has to be implemented in spite of the system, rather than because of it, it means that the system itself needs to change," he said in a rare public intervention.

From Barron's Jul. 22, 2026

VAR, a video replay system implemented to correct blatant errors in soccer, has come under fire for harming the spirit of the game.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 20, 2026

“No state has implemented proper warning labels in a way that’s actually meaningful, and no state has implemented proper THC limits in a way that’s at all meaningful.”

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 17, 2026

It is impossible to get round the problem that Papin’s steam-pressure engine could not be made to work to power a boat unless it was implemented on a large scale.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Cindy Allen, chief executive of Trade Force Multiplier, an international trade and customs consulting firm, said importers and customs brokers are implementing more technology to help manage changing trade policy.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 21, 2026

“We’re just implementing the agenda of the president as we’ve been directed through the national security strategy and the White House,” the State Department official told ProPublica.

From Salon Jul. 21, 2026

Meta and Oracle slashed over 10% of their workforces in favor of implementing AI into its operations.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 18, 2026

Plans for the proposed "anti-weaponisation" fund were abandoned in early June, just one week after another judge temporarily prevented justice department officials from implementing it.

From BBC Jul. 13, 2026

Which meant Naheed could start implementing her making-amends plan right away.

From "Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story" by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training