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
Word Generation Social Studies - Ancient Civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome
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Engineering - Introductory
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Guts
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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:
On top of that, far from all the engine manufacturers are happy about Ben Sulayem's proposal.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
Hollyer also shared photos of the couple and friends posing in front of a flower arch and at dinner, seemingly moments after the proposal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
In the 2023-24 season, widespread fan action including littering pitches with tennis balls and chocolate coins resulted in the scrapping of an investment deal, despite the proposal winning majority support of clubs.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
Christon said Chester Zoo bosses first wrote to Peak Cluster in March voicing their concerns about the route and met with project bosses in May to ask them to relook at the proposal.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
Again, on the face of it, Hamilton's proposal looked seductively simple.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
He has succeeded with reviving other seemingly dead pipeline proposals before, including two natural-gas pipelines in New York last year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
The 100-day consultation follows the recent passing of the Tobacco and Vapes Act,, external which sets out proposals to create the UK's first smoke-free generation.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
Interwoven with stories of life during wartime are proposals or instructions, allowing viewers to assess for themselves how much the works in the gallery reflect the artists’ original ideas.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
That’s why the Moneyist reader’s two proposals only work together in an ideal world, if at all.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
Half went to a conference room to present their proposals to a panel of judges, while the others went to a computer lab to test their weather models in different scenarios.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
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.
