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recommend

v.
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˌɹɛkəˈmɛnd// UK //ɹˌɛkəmˈɛnd// rec·om·mend Archaic General-service Informal

v. to suggest something to someone because you think it is good or useful. You use this when you want to share a positive opinion about a book, a restaurant, or a plan.

v. to suggest a person, thing, or course of action as being particularly suitable or advantageous for a specific purpose. Transitive; typically followed by a noun phrase, a gerund, or a 'that' clause.


SIMPLE

I highly recommend this new Italian restaurant.

CONTEXTUAL

The doctor decided to recommend a low-salt diet to help manage the patient's high blood pressure.

COMPLEX

While many critics dismissed the film for its slow pacing, several prominent directors continue to recommend it as a masterclass in visual storytelling and atmospheric tension.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English recommenden, from Old French recommender (compare French recommander), from Latin re- + commendāre (“to commend, commit; to recommend”), from con- + mandāre (“commit, intrust, enjoin”), from manus (“hand, handwriting, power”) + dare (“to give; to offer or render”). Compare typologically Bulgarian препоръчам (preporǎčam), Serbo-Croatian препоручити, Slovene priporočiti, Czech doporučit, Slovak odporučiť (the same meaning); Russian поручи́ться (poručítʹsja), пору́ка (porúka), поручи́тельство (poručítelʹstvo) (close meaning), all related to Proto-Slavic *rǫka (Bulgarian ръка (rǎka), Russian рука́ (ruká)).

Usage

The verb is transitive. It can be followed by a direct object, a gerund ('recommend going'), or a 'that' clause ('recommend that you go').

Pitfall

I recommend you to see itI recommend that you see itRecommend is not followed by an object + infinitive; use a 'that' clause or a gerund instead.

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