English Reference
noun

proposal

n.
US /pɹəˈpoʊzəɫ/ UK /pɹəpˈəʊzəl/ pro·pos·al UK spelling proposal's, proposal's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    a formal plan or suggestion that you give to someone to think about.

    a formal scheme or plan of action submitted for examination or adoption.

    Simple

    The committee is reviewing a new proposal to build a park in the city centre.

    In context

    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'.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    an offer of marriage to someone.

    an act of asking someone to marry you.

    Simple

    She was so surprised by his romantic proposal during their holiday in Italy.

    In context

    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'.

    marriage offer

One proposal floated by state organizations would give HHS data on 90% of Americans’ medical records by 2028.

The Conversation· 17 Aug 2026

A Labour source said: “This analysis exposes the true impact of Reform’s welfare proposals.

The Guardian· 17 Aug 2026

From propose + -al.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated