propose
Americanverb (used with object)
-
proposes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
proposed,
past participle, past
-
proposing
present participle
-
to offer or suggest (a matter, subject, case, etc.) for consideration, acceptance, or action.
to propose a new method.
- Antonyms:
- withdraw
-
to offer (a toast).
-
to suggest.
He proposed that a messenger be sent.
-
to present or nominate (a person) for some position, office, membership, etc.
-
to put before oneself as something to be done; design; intend.
-
to present to the mind or attention; state.
-
to propound (a question, riddle, etc.).
verb (used without object)
-
proposes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
proposed,
past participle, past
-
proposing
present participle
-
to make an offer or suggestion, especially of marriage.
-
to form or consider a purpose or design.
verb
-
(when tr, may take a clause as object) to put forward (a plan, motion, etc) for consideration or action
-
(tr) to nominate, as for a position
-
(tr) to plan or intend (to do something)
I propose to leave town now
-
(tr) to announce the drinking of (a toast) to (the health of someone, etc)
-
to make an offer of marriage (to someone)
Synonym Usage
See intend.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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proposernoun
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misproposeverb
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reproposeverb
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proposableadjective
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unproposableadjective
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unproposingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
proposesimple
-
proposessimple
-
have proposedperfect
-
has proposedperfect
-
am proposingprogressive
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are proposingprogressive
-
is proposingprogressive
-
have been proposingperfect progressive
-
has been proposingperfect progressive
Past
-
proposedsimple
-
had proposedperfect
-
was proposingprogressive
-
were proposingprogressive
-
had been proposingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of propose
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French proposer ( see pro- 1, pose 1), by association with derivatives of Latin prōpositus, past participle of prōpōnere “to set forth;” See propositus
Explanation
The verb propose means "to suggest a plan," like the most well-known thing to propose: marriage. If you propose to your girlfriend, you propose getting married, and you probably give her a ring, too. The word propose comes from the Old French root words pro, meaning "forth" and poser, meaning "put, place." Using propose to refer to an offer of marriage was first recorded in the 1700s but the verb also has other meanings. It can mean to present for consideration or criticism, like proposing a four-day school week or "to nominate someone for an elected office or official post."
Vocabulary lists containing propose
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 3
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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:
The researchers propose that after the star expelled this chemically enriched material, some of it gathered together and eventually formed a gas giant planet.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 9, 2026
A draft of the study didn’t propose only one solution but advocated for 23 different strategies, including bluff stabilization, catchment walls, sand placement, engineered revetments or seawalls and rail-foundation improvements.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Norway is looking to foster a discussion around the use of AI-enabled glasses in public spaces, as privacy concerns prompted the country’s government to propose a temporary ban in certain areas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Hence the report’s nod to the need for change, though it doesn’t propose reforms that would break the campus culture of conformity and entitlement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
“How on earth do you propose to get a loop of string around a seagull’s neck? I suppose you’re going to fly up there yourself and catch it!”
From "James and the Giant Peach" by Roald Dahl
The mayor didn’t say how she proposes to cover the cost of free fares.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
She's been heading a commission into adult social care since April last year and Burnham said her findings would influence what he proposes.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
Drawing on this evidence, Prof. Ratzon proposes a different historical scenario.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026
If the auditor is not happy with what a company proposes, the commission can ask for "corrective measures".
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
He proposes that a declaration of war should be a kind of popular festival with entrance-tickets and bands, like a bull fight.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
But enough years passed that the statue could be proposed to commemorate the American centennial.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
The third thing to bear in mind about Musk’s proposed giveaway is that, while one share of SpaceX is better than no shares, the value is currently $150.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026
Decentralising energy provision through local generation, battery energy storage, microgrids and cogeneration have all been proposed to boost the supply, but time is not on Ukraine's side.
From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026
The proposed similarities do not establish that Freud's broader theories were correct.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026
Having pinpointed the location of gender-carrying genes to a single chromosome, Stevens proposed that all genes might be carried on chromosomes.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Gross trained Idealab.ai on a huge database of journalistic and professional articles, with an eye toward finding problem statements and then proposing business ideas to solve them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
A bill proposing to ban the use of animals in Russian circuses was put to the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, this year.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
Mikula filed a citizen petition in August 2025 proposing the change and it will appear on ballots statewide this November.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
"I'm proposing a crackdown on fair dodgers at the Tube barriers by introducing British Transport Police, as well as training up Transport for London staff to stop people breaking through the barriers."
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
I’m proposing that we put our gold into this, and all the craft and courage we can muster.
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
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