proposal

American  

[pruh-poh-zuhl] / prəˈpoʊ zəl /

noun

• proposals
  plural

1. the act of offering or suggesting something for acceptance, adoption, or performance.

   Synonyms:

   recommendation

2. a plan or scheme proposed.

   Synonyms:

   design, suggestion

3. an offer or suggestion of marriage.

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proposal British  

/ prəˈpəʊzəl /

noun

1. the act of proposing

2. something proposed, as a plan

3. an offer, esp of marriage

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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

• misproposal
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• proposals
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of proposal

First recorded in 1645–55; propose + -al ²

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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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

proposal proposals

Duwai approached village elders with a proposal to protect part of their fishing grounds, originally a 30-by-40-metre area within the reef.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

Dale Harvey said he was concerned it would add the noise from the A48 dual carriageway, saying the proposal was "not great".

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

Technologies that have entered the public domain through published papers or open-source releases are excluded from controls, according to the draft proposal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Raman tried to exempt newly built apartment complexes, but her proposal fizzled out in the City Council.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

My face flushed, thinking of Traveler’s near proposal in ATO.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Wenger has caused controversy at times in his Fifa role, notably for proposals such as biennial World Cups, and the idea of a 'daylight' offside law.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Its proposals include a pooled fund, technical assistance and shared promotion, alongside exploration of a new county-level arts funding mechanism.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

The new SEC proposals would allow sponsors to operate these vehicles more flexibly.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

The proposals are expected to have a net positive impact on free cash flow with full run-rate benefit from 2028.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 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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Related Words

• bid
• idea
• motion
• offer
• outline
• overture
• plan
• program
• project
• proposition
• recommendation
• scheme

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