Word
proposal
Phoneticspro·pos·al, stress on the second syllable
US/pɹəˈpoʊzəɫ/
UK/pɹəpˈəʊzəl/
Definitions
01a formal plan
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Academic
n. a formal plan or suggestion that you give to someone to think about.
n. a formal scheme or plan of action submitted for examination or adoption.
“The committee is reviewing a new proposal to build a park in the city centre.”
“The research team submitted a detailed proposal to the board, outlining the projected costs and potential environmental impact of the new facility.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'submit', 'review', or 'reject'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02marriage offer
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. an offer of marriage to someone.
n. an act of asking someone to marry you.
“She was so surprised by his romantic proposal during their holiday in Italy.”
“After five years of dating, his surprise proposal on the cliffs of Moher was met with an immediate and joyful acceptance.”
Usage
Commonly used with the verb 'make' or 'accept'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “proposal” in context.
Verb
01. accept a marriage proposal
“She was delighted to accept his marriage proposal during their holiday in Paris.”
verb + adj + noun
02. reject the proposal
“The board of directors decided to reject the proposal because it was too expensive.”
verb + noun
03. submit a proposal
“The architecture firm must submit a proposal for the new library by Friday.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. controversial proposal
“The controversial proposal to build a highway through the park met with fierce local opposition.”
adj + noun
05. detailed proposal
“We need a detailed proposal that outlines the budget and the timeline for the project.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. outline of the proposal
“The manager gave us a brief outline of the proposal before the main presentation.”
noun + of + noun
07. proposal for reform
“The government's latest proposal for reform aims to improve the healthcare system.”
noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“One proposal floated by state organizations would give HHS data on 90% of Americans’ medical records by 2028.” “A Labour source said: “This analysis exposes the true impact of Reform’s welfare proposals.” “Today’s proposal for bill rises is real money out of family budgets at a time when they are struggling with the cost of living.” Etymology
From propose + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Idioms
01. modest proposal
The word in film
The Proposal · 2009 · Comedy
- Directed by:
- Anne Fletcher
- Starring:
- Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White
Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds star in this romantic comedy about a powerful boss who forces her assistant to marry her so she can stay in the country. The title describes the desperate marriage offer that starts their complicated and funny relationship.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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