proposal
Americannoun
-
proposals
plural
-
the act of offering or suggesting something for acceptance, adoption, or performance.
- Synonyms:
- recommendation
-
a plan or scheme proposed.
- Synonyms:
- design, suggestion
-
an offer or suggestion of marriage.
noun
-
the act of proposing
-
something proposed, as a plan
-
an offer, esp of marriage
Synonym Usage
Proposal, overture, proposition refer to something in the nature of an offer. A proposal is a plan, a scheme, an offer to be accepted or rejected: to make proposals for peace. An overture is a friendly approach, an opening move (perhaps involving a proposal) tentatively looking toward the settlement of a controversy or else preparing the way for a proposal or the like: to make overtures to an enemy. Proposition, used in mathematics to refer to a formal statement of truth, and often including the proof or demonstration of the statement, has something of this same meaning when used nontechnically (particularly in business). A proposition is a proposal in which the terms are clearly stated and their advantageous nature emphasized: His proposition involved a large discount to the retailer.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of proposal
Explanation
A proposal is an offer. When making a marriage proposal, get down on one knee. When making a business proposal, try to stay off the floor. A proposal is a suggested plan or offer. After overhearing the marriage proposal, everyone in the restaurant watched in silence, waiting to hear your answer. At least you said "yes" to dessert. There are other types of proposals besides marriage offers: "Your proposal that the dollar be replaced by a new currency made of cheese has gained support from the dairy industry."
Vocabulary lists containing proposal
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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:
In the episode, she describes her courtship with Jason and his proposal during their visit to the Cayman Islands.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
In response to the migrant crisis in the Spanish territory of Ceuta this year, the proposal also envisages a "quick reaction force" and a new monitoring centre to scan social media.
From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026
Enrique Lores, who became PayPal’s chief executive in March, reiterated that while the company will evaluate any merger or acquisition proposal, he remains focused on executing PayPal’s turnaround.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
In a 1987 proposal from former Rep. Tim Penny, a Democrat who represented Minnesota from 1983-1995, the flat-rate strategy would use a benchmark determined by the dollar amount the beneficiary in the 20th percentile received.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026
Still unaware that the FBI was watching his every move, he surprised Gerda with a marriage proposal.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
The proposals provoked an angry response from the men's doubles cohort when they were revealed in July.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
The pair took part in a final televised debate on Friday, during which they mostly focused on policy proposals after a first debate that quickly deteriorated into a barrage of insults.
From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026
In the most expensive ballot measure fights in California history, $463 million was spent on two gambling proposals 2022.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026
The center and its news project aren’t partisan, but they do talk about politicians who are running for election and discuss their records and proposals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
There were numerous grant proposals to write, and a piece on MDR-TB in Russia.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
