suggest
Americanverb (used with object)
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suggests,
present (3rd person singular)
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suggested,
past participle, past
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suggesting
present participle
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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:
Some studies conducted by academic researchers suggest GLP-1s may improve metabolic health and menstrual regularity in women with PMOS, particularly those who are overweight or have obesity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Taken together, these findings suggest that serine metabolism is a promising research target, but not a simple case of more being better.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
They also said their brother lived in Notting Hill, had no connection with Putney and they had evidence to suggest he was in his Bond Street office at the time of the attack.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
You can also suggest you all do different, less-costly activities like going to a park or grabbing ice cream.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026
I’m about to suggest a new game when the cat clock in the kitchen starts meowing.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
But “The Spiral” also suggests that, as in America, a new wave of global horror is just about to bubble over.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
New research led by UC Riverside suggests that a simple but overlooked process may help explain the difference: individual pieces of ice repeatedly collide with one another.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
An old saying suggests that the road to the White House runs through Ohio.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
You could also let the check sit on the table before reaching for it, Clayman suggests.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026
“I could arrange for you to meet with Chandresh,” Marco suggests.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Some ideas were rejected as impractical, like the shopper who suggested Net-a-Porter deliver packages by private jet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
The findings suggested that Menin could influence cognition not only through inflammation, but also by helping maintain the chemistry that supports brain signaling.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
This week, faculty wrote that his words lent credence to false accusations against the symposium and wrongly suggested that the lawyer or the organizers supported her client’s alleged crimes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
Or perhaps, as suggested by the circles beneath his eyes, he was lacking the energy to keep up with the committee members.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026
The way he said it suggested that to cancel now would be a prudent thing to do.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
President Trump in March signed an executive order emphasizing “truthful advertising” and suggesting that the FTC require e-commerce sellers to develop formal processes for verifying third-party sellers’ country-of-origin claims.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
The team also found evidence of similar immune cells in human skull bone marrow, suggesting that this local defense system may not be limited to mice.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026
Spencer's latest allegations include him suggesting King Charles's reaction to Diana's death was to think "how this event might free him to marry the woman he loved", the Times includes.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Trump and Xi agreed to begin talks on AI safety during the U.S. president’s visit to Beijing this spring, suggesting a strategic alignment could emerge to address the threat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
The Boss, normally so cautious, was suggesting they slide down the mountain.
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
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.
