propose
Americanverb (used with object)
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to offer or suggest (a matter, subject, case, etc.) for consideration, acceptance, or action.
to propose a new method.
- Antonyms:
- withdraw
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to offer (a toast).
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to suggest.
He proposed that a messenger be sent.
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to present or nominate (a person) for some position, office, membership, etc.
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to put before oneself as something to be done; design; intend.
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to present to the mind or attention; state.
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to propound (a question, riddle, etc.).
verb (used without object)
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to make an offer or suggestion, especially of marriage.
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to form or consider a purpose or design.
verb
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(when tr, may take a clause as object) to put forward (a plan, motion, etc) for consideration or action
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(tr) to nominate, as for a position
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(tr) to plan or intend (to do something)
I propose to leave town now
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(tr) to announce the drinking of (a toast) to (the health of someone, etc)
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to make an offer of marriage (to someone)
Synonym Usage
See intend.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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proposernoun
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misproposeverb
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reproposeverb
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proposableadjective
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unproposableadjective
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unproposingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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proposesimple
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proposessimple
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have proposedperfect
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has proposedperfect
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am proposingprogressive
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are proposingprogressive
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is proposingprogressive
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have been proposingperfect progressive
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has been proposingperfect progressive
Past
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proposedsimple
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had proposedperfect
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was proposingprogressive
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were proposingprogressive
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had been proposingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of propose
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French proposer ( see pro- 1, pose 1), by association with derivatives of Latin prōpositus, past participle of prōpōnere “to set forth;” See propositus
Explanation
The verb propose means "to suggest a plan," like the most well-known thing to propose: marriage. If you propose to your girlfriend, you propose getting married, and you probably give her a ring, too. The word propose comes from the Old French root words pro, meaning "forth" and poser, meaning "put, place." Using propose to refer to an offer of marriage was first recorded in the 1700s but the verb also has other meanings. It can mean to present for consideration or criticism, like proposing a four-day school week or "to nominate someone for an elected office or official post."
Vocabulary lists containing propose
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 3
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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.
Stone was already planning to propose to Kathy Silva, with whom he shared a 9-month-old child.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 27, 2026
He was a bit better than me at the end, so I decided to propose a different game - Scrabble.
From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026
So, Henry became familiar with local zoning and planning and that intimate knowledge allowed her to propose actionable changes like data center bans.
From Salon • Jun. 12, 2026
In 2016, the city asked developers to propose building affordable housing on the city-owned parking lot in Venice, a once-working class community now home to multimillion-dollar homes and upscale restaurants.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
And then my parents walk over to propose a celebratory trip to The Varsity.
From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli
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.
