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

That could have included residential rehabilitation, community-based treatment, detoxification, substitute prescriptions or any other treatment recommended by a health professional.

Read more on BBC

In general, people should buy the highest “replacement-cost endorsement” — or optional addition to their policy — that they can afford, recommends United Policyholders.

Read more on MarketWatch

Chang recommended looking at a restaurant’s wine list beforehand, online—something I like to do, as well.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Our soundtrack aptly intersected folk and country, and while we listened to anything anyone recommended, Cash was our mainstay.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Financial advisers often recommend that you don’t make any major financial decisions after a big life event.

Read more on MarketWatch

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."