Suggest Definition & Meaning

American

British

Related Words

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms suggest American [suhg-jest, suh-] / səgˈdʒɛst, sə- /

verb (used with object)

1. to mention or introduce (an idea, proposition, plan, etc.) for consideration or possible action.

   The architect suggested that the building be restored.

2. to propose (a person or thing) as suitable or possible for some purpose.

   We suggested him for president.

   Synonyms: advise, recommend

3. (of things) to prompt the consideration, making, doing, etc., of.

   The glove suggests that she was at the scene of the crime.

4. to bring before a person's mind indirectly or without plain expression.

   I didn't tell him to leave, I only suggested it.

   Synonyms: imply, indicate

5. to call (something) up in the mind through association or natural connection of ideas.

   The music suggests a still night.

suggest British / səˈdʒɛst, səɡˈdʒɛst /

verb

1. to put forward (a plan, idea, etc) for consideration

   I suggest Smith for the post

   a plan suggested itself

2. to evoke (a person, thing, etc) in the mind of someone by the association of ideas

   that painting suggests home to me

3. to give an indirect or vague hint of

   his face always suggests his peace of mind

"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

Related Words

See hint.

Other Word Forms

• presuggest verb (used with object)
• suggestedness noun
• suggester noun
• suggestingly adverb
• unsuggested adjective
• unsuggesting adjective

Etymology

Origin of suggest

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin suggestus (past participle of suggerere “to build up, supply, hint, suggest”), equivalent to sug- sug- + ges- (past participle stem of gerere “to carry, do, display”) + -tus past participle suffix

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.

Odermatt suggested that his victory in the giant slalom in Beijing four years ago had taken off some pressure.

From Barron's

This week’s selloff suggests that investors are beginning to take that prospect much more seriously.

From The Wall Street Journal

NFIB’s latest report also suggests that while good help is hard to find, it’s not as hard as it used to be:

From The Wall Street Journal

This suggests that tumor location influences which mutations are most likely to thrive.

From Science Daily

For people who committed to an unprocessed food diet as a New Year's resolution, research suggests the change may guide food choices in a surprising way.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• advise
• advocate
• offer
• propose
• put
• recommend
• submit

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.