suggest
Americanverb (used with object)
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to mention or introduce (an idea, proposition, plan, etc.) for consideration or possible action.
The architect suggested that the building be restored.
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to propose (a person or thing) as suitable or possible for some purpose.
We suggested him for president.
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(of things) to prompt the consideration, making, doing, etc., of.
The glove suggests that she was at the scene of the crime.
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to bring before a person's mind indirectly or without plain expression.
I didn't tell him to leave, I only suggested it.
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to call (something) up in the mind through association or natural connection of ideas.
The music suggests a still night.
verb
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to put forward (a plan, idea, etc) for consideration
I suggest Smith for the post
a plan suggested itself
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to evoke (a person, thing, etc) in the mind of someone by the association of ideas
that painting suggests home to me
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to give an indirect or vague hint of
his face always suggests his peace of mind
Synonym Usage
See hint.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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suggestednessnoun
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suggesternoun
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presuggestverb (used with object)
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unsuggestedadjective
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unsuggestingadjective
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suggestinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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suggestsimple
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suggestssimple
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have suggestedperfect
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has suggestedperfect
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am suggestingprogressive
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are suggestingprogressive
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is suggestingprogressive
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have been suggestingperfect progressive
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has been suggestingperfect progressive
Past
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suggestedsimple
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had suggestedperfect
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was suggestingprogressive
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were suggestingprogressive
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had been suggestingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of suggest
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin suggestus (past participle of suggerere “to build up, supply, hint, suggest”), equivalent to sug- sug- + ges- (past participle stem of gerere “to carry, do, display”) + -tus past participle suffix
Explanation
To suggest is to propose or hint. If you suggest going out for ice cream, nobody's going to object. If you suggest that your sister should get the frozen yogurt instead, she might think you are suggesting something about her weight. The verb suggest is also used when people speak about scientific research. Experimental results are often used to suggest whether a theory might be correct. For example, if a patient takes a new drug and starts feeling better, that will suggest the drug is working. Suggest can also mean to drop a hint. If you find a polite way to suggest that the pot roast is inedible, you don't come out and declare it directly. You wouldn't want to hurt Mom's feelings.
Vocabulary lists containing suggest
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 2
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 1
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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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:
Value stocks typically trade at a discount to what a company’s profits suggest they are worth; growth stocks aren’t cheap, but are expected to increase earnings at a faster-than-average pace.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
But does Hogh's arrival suggest the club are adopting a quality-over-quantity approach?
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Consensus estimates suggest that Apple’s capital expenditures over the next 12 months will remain relatively low, at around $13.4 billion.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
These results suggest that the image may contain elements created at very different times.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026
I suggest maybe that’s why he’s overdoing it.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
He suggests they potentially downsize tourism or urbanisation to protect coral -- a "difficult political question" for those who want to keep Okinawa's economy thriving.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
“Its 10% decline for the day so far suggests we’re in the ‘despair’ part of the sell-off, where traders are simply trying to rush to the exit before everyone else.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
First developed in the 1950s by British psychiatrist John Bowlby, attachment theory suggests that the bonds we form with early caregivers shape our expectations of relationships.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
So she suggests carefully reading your bills and comparing them against your explanation of benefits.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
“Sure. Although you might want to go downstairs so you don’t catch those mowers outside. Or Mr. Nelsons dog barking,” Mustafa suggests.
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
It was a soothing and relaxed space that suggested fun on the horizon.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Kelmar also suggested making sure that the healthcare provider will zero out your balance after receiving a negotiated amount.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
When shoppers don’t have enough to cover purchases, several vendors suggested that they were open to bartering or offering deals for long-term customers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Michael Chybowski’s bold lighting brought out the rich, dusky hues of Susan Ruddie’s costuming, which suggested South Sea islanders clad in beachwear.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Then Grandma knocked on my door and suggested I log out or something tragic might happen to the router.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
Or a Delta rep at check-in suggesting you sign up for the airline’s card so you don’t have to fork over $45 for a checked bag again.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
Over the weekend, an uneasy ceasefire established itself across the Persian Gulf, suggesting Signum’s theories had been borne out and validated by events.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
In doing so, they offer a contrasting view to consultant-centered narratives, suggesting that while strategists matter, electoral outcomes and political careers are often attributed in public record to broader forces and to the officeholders themselves.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
Increased GLP-1 levels were also linked to better grip strength, suggesting a possible connection between gut health and muscle function that researchers believe deserves further study.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026
It occurs to me for the first time that, whether she knows it or not, she isn’t suggesting running away to be human.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
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.
