Meaning & use
suggest
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To offer an idea or plan for someone to think about or accept.
Grammar: Takes an object or a that-clause, not an object person: suggest a plan, suggest that we leave (not suggest me a plan).
Patterns
- suggest something to someone
- suggest that someone do something
- suggest doing something
I suggest we leave before the traffic builds up.
She suggested a walk along the river.
The teacher suggested that he read more widely.
verbtransitive
To show or hint that something is probably true, without saying it directly.
Grammar: The subject is usually a thing, such as evidence or a sign: the results suggest a link.
Patterns
- something suggests that something
- something suggests something
The footprints suggest that someone entered through the window.
Her smile suggested she already knew the answer.
Early data suggest a rise in sales this spring.
verbtransitive
To make someone think of a person, thing, or quality because of a likeness or association.
Grammar: Takes a direct object: the smell suggests the sea.
Patterns
- suggest something to someone
The painting's colors suggest a warm summer evening.
The name suggests an expensive restaurant, but it is quite cheap.
Word forms
| third person singular | suggests |
|---|---|
| past tense | suggested |
| past participle | suggested |
| -ing form | suggesting |
Common combinations
- strongly suggest
- I strongly suggest you back up your files today.
- suggest a solution
- Can anyone suggest a solution to this puzzle?
- evidence suggests
- Evidence suggests the fire began in the kitchen.
- suggest otherwise
- Nothing in the report suggests otherwise.
- suggest a date
- Could you suggest a date that works for everyone?
Synonyms and how they differ
- propose
- Propose is more formal and suggests a definite plan put forward for a decision, while suggest can be tentative and casual.
- recommend
- Recommend implies you advise something as good or right, whereas suggest merely offers an option.
- imply
- Imply means a speaker hints at something indirectly; suggest in its second sense can also be used for evidence, not only people.
- hint
- Hint is always indirect and gentle, while suggest can also be a plain, open proposal.
Opposites
Word family
- suggestion noun
- an idea offered for consideration
- suggestive adjective
- hinting at something, sometimes sexual
- suggestible adjective
- easily influenced by ideas from others
- suggestively adverb
- in a way that hints at something
Commonly confused: suggest or imply?
suggest vs imply
Imply is what a speaker does when hinting at a meaning; infer is what a listener does. Suggest can be done by people or by evidence.
Practice
Which sentence uses suggest correctly?
Choose one answer.
Suggest takes a that-clause (or an -ing form), not a person plus infinitive. The first option copies the pattern of 'advise someone to', which suggest does not allow.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “suggest”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.