commend
Americanverb (used with object)
-
commends,
present (3rd person singular)
-
commended,
past participle, past
-
commending
present participle
-
to present, mention, or praise as worthy of confidence, notice, kindness, etc.; recommend.
to commend a friend to another;
to commend an applicant for employment.
- Antonyms:
- censure
-
to entrust; give in charge; deliver with confidence.
I commend my child to your care.
-
to cite or name with approval or special praise.
to commend a soldier for bravery.
-
Feudal Law. to place (oneself or one's land) under another's protection so as to become his vassal.
-
Archaic. to recommend (a person) to the kind remembrance of another.
verb
-
to present or represent as being worthy of regard, confidence, kindness, etc; recommend
-
to give in charge; entrust
-
to express a good opinion of; praise
-
to give the regards of
commend me to your aunt
Synonym Usage
See approve.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
commendablenessnoun
-
commendernoun
-
overcommendverb (used with object)
-
commendableadjective
-
commendatoryadjective
-
commendablyadverb
-
commendinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
commendsimple
-
commendssimple
-
have commendedperfect
-
has commendedperfect
-
am commendingprogressive
-
are commendingprogressive
-
is commendingprogressive
-
have been commendingperfect progressive
-
has been commendingperfect progressive
Past
-
commendedsimple
-
had commendedperfect
-
was commendingprogressive
-
were commendingprogressive
-
had been commendingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of commend
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English commenden, from Latin commendāre, equivalent to com- com- + -mendāre, combining form of mandāre; see mandate
Explanation
Have you ever shouted "Bravo!" at the end of a play or cooed "Good boy!" to the dog when he followed a command? Then you know how to commend someone — in other words, to express approval aloud. The most common meaning of commend is "to compliment." You commend someone when you tell them "Well done!" You can even say "I commend you on your hard work." Back in the days of Charles Dickens, commend often meant to put (someone or something) in the hands of someone else for safekeeping. Case in point: David Copperfield was out of luck when his cruel stepdad commended him to the equally cruel schoolmaster Mr. Creakle at Salem house.
Vocabulary lists containing commend
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act II
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I've Been to the Mountaintop" (1968)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Much Ado About Nothing
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
“Their resiliency is so pronounced; it’s special. You’ve been brave and we commend you,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
"They risked their safety in a very dangerous and very volatile situation - I commend them for their dedication to duty."
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
"I commend the effort, professionalism, and integrity shown by referee Omar," Mohamud said.
From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026
“The fact that you cannot come out of hunting feeling unambiguously good about it,” Mr. Pollan once wrote in an essay, “is perhaps what should commend the practice” to meat eaters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
For this reason I cannot commend this account as an America that you will find.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
The cases taken by these seat-of-the-pants sleuths are not always cloak-and-dagger—a potential client of their fledgling detective agency commends them at one point for having found someone else’s lost dog.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
In a statement, the management said it "welcomes the release of its editor and commends the courtesy, professionalism, and attentiveness demonstrated by investigators throughout the process".
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2025
"The National Police Service condemns this heinous act and commends the officers for their swift response, which prevented further harm," police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2025
She commends his dedication and will to sustain his operations almost single-handedly.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2024
Lively, brilliant music is admirable, and commends itself to every taste.
From The Great Musicians: Rossini and His School by Henry Sutherland Edwards
I commended Hilton for his cheery, aspirational messaging, which is what Latinos want to hear.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
Rodriguez has been a vocal advocate for placing the cameras across Texas and has commended their use in Laredo and elsewhere for allowing a new approach to detecting crime.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
Vince Miller, an attorney representing Garrido, commended the Sheriff’s Department for doing “the right thing” in this case.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
Von der Leyen commended Sanchez on the "swift handling" of the crisis that saw tens of thousands of people stream into Ceuta from Morocco -- almost all of whom have since left.
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
Indeed he was commended three times and then decorated for bravery.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
During Sharaa's last visit in January, Putin said "much has been accomplished in terms of restoring our interstate relations", commending Sharaa for his "efforts to restore Syria's territorial integrity".
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
Normally primary candidates postpone commending their opponents until after they’ve either won or lost; Mr. Youngkin expresses his before the contest has started.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
The Los Angeles Police Department released a statement commending the protesters for their cooperation and peacefulness, which led to a demonstration "without incident."
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2025
"No doubt this would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers," he said, while commending the "bravery" of those who had overpowered the suspect.
From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2025
“Officer Delinko, you’re back on the road, effective immediately. In addition, the sergeant has written a letter commending the outstanding job you did in capturing our suspect. This will become part of your permanent file.”
From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
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.
