put sth forward
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. to suggest an idea, plan, or person so that other people can consider or discuss them.
phrasal verb. to propose a theory, suggestion, or candidate for consideration; often used in formal or professional contexts to initiate a debate or selection process.
She put forward a new plan for the project.
During the meeting, several members put forward interesting ideas for the upcoming charity event.
The committee decided to put forward his name as a potential candidate for the directorship despite his lack of seniority.
the object is usually an abstract noun like 'idea', 'suggestion', or 'theory', or a person's name.
contrast with 'propose' (more formal) and 'suggest' (more general); note that 'put forward' is common in academic and business writing to introduce hypotheses.
He put forward to the idea.He put forward the idea.the verb is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'to'.
Last updated April 24, 2026