Recommend Definition & Meaning

American

British

Usage

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms recommend American [rek-uh-mend] / ˌrɛk əˈmɛnd /

verb (used with object)

1. to present as worthy of confidence, acceptance, use, etc.; commend; mention favorably.

   to recommend an applicant for a job; to recommend a book.

   Synonyms: condone, approve Antonyms: condemn

2. to represent or urge as advisable or expedient.

   to recommend caution.

3. to advise, as an alternative; suggest (a choice, course of action, etc.) as appropriate, beneficial, or the like.

   He recommended the blue-plate special. The doctor recommended special exercises for her.

   Synonyms: counsel

4. to make desirable or attractive.

   a plan that has very little to recommend it.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a recommendation.

noun

1. Informal. a recommendation.

recommend British / ˌrɛkəˈmɛnd /

verb

1. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to advise as the best course or choice; counsel

   to recommend prudence

2. to praise or commend

   to recommend a new book

3. to make attractive or advisable

   the trip has little to recommend it

4. archaic to entrust (a person or thing) to someone else's care; commend

"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

Spelling tips for recommend The word recommend is hard to spell because it is tricky to know whether the c, the m, and/or the n is doubled. How to spell recommend: The easiest way to remember how to spell recommend is to break it into three parts: re - com - mend. You can keep these three sections in mind with the sentence: "I recommend that you rely commonly on mending."

Other Word Forms

• prerecommend verb (used with object)
• recommendable adjective
• recommender noun
• unrecommendable adjective
• unrecommended adjective
• well-recommended adjective

Etymology

Origin of recommend

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English recommenden, from Medieval Latin recommendāre; equivalent to re- + commend

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.

Two options for renovating Parliament were recommended earlier this month by a committee of MPs, peers and external members known as the R&R Client Board.

From BBC

If those options are off the table, his budget recommends raising city property taxes by 9.5%, which would generate $3.7 billion.

From The Wall Street Journal

“A dare? Your audition for drama club? If so, I heartily recommend you for whatever part you’re trying out for, because you really had me convinced—you had me running through the library.”

From Literature

Discovery will hold a special shareholder meeting on March 20 to vote on the Netflix merger, which its board recommends.

From Barron's

When the team discovered that some edible portions contained PTE levels above recommended standards, they conducted a formal health risk assessment.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• advocate
• back
• confirm
• endorse
• favor
• justify
• praise
• prescribe
• propose
• suggest
• uphold
• urge

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.