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

Other Word Forms

• recommendable adjective
• recommender noun
• prerecommend verb (used with object)
• unrecommendable adjective
• unrecommended adjective
• well-recommended 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

The stocks recommended by Morgan Stanley are notable for the absence of megacap tech.

Read more on MarketWatch

The suit said competing landlords shared nonpublic information — such as occupancy and rents on executed leases — with RealPage, which then used that data to recommend rents at individual properties.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Neighbors recommend helpful contractors and share tips for stretching their solar power.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The authors recommend stronger marketing limits, particularly for promotions aimed at children, digital advertising, and brand-level marketing.

Read more on Science Daily

Podgorski also recommends bringing up the subject when everyone is together.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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

When To Use

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."