recommend

[ rek-uh-mend ]

verb (used with object)

1. to present as worthy of confidence, acceptance, use, etc.; commend; mention favorably:

   to recommend an applicant for a job; to recommend a book.

   Synonyms: condone, approve

   Antonyms: condemn

2. to represent or urge as advisable or expedient:

   to recommend caution.

3. to advise, as an alternative; suggest (a choice, course of action, etc.) as appropriate, beneficial, or the like:

   He recommended the blue-plate special. The doctor recommended special exercises for her.

   Synonyms: counsel

4. to make desirable or attractive:

   a plan that has very little to recommend it.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a recommendation.

noun

1. Informal. a recommendation.

recommend

/ ˌrɛkəˈmɛnd /

verb

1. may take a clause as object or an infinitive to advise as the best course or choice; counsel

   to recommend prudence

2. to praise or commend

   to recommend a new book

3. to make attractive or advisable

   the trip has little to recommend it

4. archaic.
   to entrust (a person or thing) to someone else's care; commend

Derived Forms

• ˌrecomˈmender, noun
• ˌrecomˈmendable, adjective

Other Words From

• recom·menda·ble adjective
• recom·mender noun
• prerec·om·mend verb (used with object)
• unrec·om·menda·ble adjective
• unrec·om·mended adjective
• well-recom·mended adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of recommend¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English recommenden, from Medieval Latin recommendāre; equivalent to re- + commend

Word History and Origins

Origin of recommend¹

C14: via Medieval Latin from Latin re- + commendāre to commend

Example Sentences

Staying on theme, I recommend “The Anatomy of Disgust,” by William Ian Miller, in which the author argues that the emotion of disgust helps us impose a sense of order.

From New York Times

They recommend double-checking ingredients or working with a doctor or healthcare professional to choose the prenatal supplement.

From Science Daily

A lot of people who come from Mexico, they’re like, “What places do you recommend?”

From Los Angeles Times

The reviewers recommended that the program “make it clear that the monograph cannot be used to draw any conclusions regarding low fluoride exposure concentrations ... typically associated with drinking-water fluoridation.”

From Los Angeles Times

Instead of focusing on small individual changes, Perez recommends joining a group.

From Salon

Related Words

• advocate
• back
• confirm
• endorse
• favor
• justify
• praise
• prescribe
• propose
• suggest
• uphold
• urge

How Do You Spell Recommend?

Spelling tips for recommend

The word recommend is hard to spell because it is tricky to know whether the c, the m, and/or the n is doubled. 

How to spell recommend:  The easiest way to remember how to spell recommend is to break it into three parts: re – com – mend. You can keep these three sections in mind with the sentence: “I recommend that you rely commonly on mending.”