# commend

/kəˈmɛnd/ (US) · /kəmˈɛnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/commend
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to praise formally

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to praise someone or something in a formal way, often for doing a good job.

For teachers: to express formal praise or approval of someone or something. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The manager decided to commend the team for finishing the project ahead of schedule.
- The committee voted to commend the officer for her exceptional bravery during the emergency rescue operation.

### 2. to recommend

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to say that something is good and should be chosen or used.

For teachers: to present or represent as worthy of confidence, acceptance, or regard.

- This new book has much to commend it to anyone interested in history.
- While the proposal is expensive, its focus on long-term sustainability is a feature that should commend it to the board.

### 3. to entrust

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

to give something or someone into the care of another person.

For teachers: to entrust or commit to the care of another. Often used in religious or highly literary contexts.

- Before he left, he commended his children to the care of his sister.
- In his final hours, the poet commended his soul to a higher power and his manuscripts to his most trusted friend.

## Examples

- The manager decided to commend the team for their hard work.
- The city council voted to commend the local volunteers for their tireless efforts during the recent flood recovery.
- While the committee did not adopt the entire proposal, they did commend the researchers for the thoroughness of their data collection and the clarity of their final report.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.