suggest
- 01 A2 Elementary
to mention an idea or a plan for someone else to think about.
to put forward a plan, idea, or candidate for consideration or action.
Simple“I suggest taking the train because the traffic is very heavy today.”
In context“The consultant suggested that the board restructure the department to improve internal communication and reduce overhead costs.”
UsageOften followed by a gerund (suggest doing) or a 'that' clause (suggest that he do).
PitfallHe suggested me to go to the doctor. He suggested that I go to the doctor.The verb 'suggest' cannot be followed by an object + infinitive. Use a 'that' clause or a gerund instead.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
to show that something is likely true without saying it in a direct way.
to communicate a fact or state of affairs indirectly; to serve as evidence for a particular conclusion.
Simple“The dark clouds suggest that it might rain later this afternoon.”
In context“Preliminary data from the study suggest a strong correlation between sleep quality and cognitive performance in older adults.”
UsageUsually takes a non-human subject like 'evidence', 'data', or 'research'.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
to make you think of something else because of a similarity.
to evoke a mental image or idea through association or resemblance.
Simple“The smell of the sea always suggests happy childhood holidays to me.”
In context“The melody's haunting quality suggests the vast, empty landscapes of the composer's northern homeland.”
suggest vs recommend — Suggest proposes a possibility for consideration, while recommend provides a stronger endorsement based on personal belief or expertise.
Usage suggest one · suggests people · suggest something
Coined based on Latin suggestus, perfect passive participle of suggerō (“bring up, bring under, lay beneath, furnish, supply, excite, advise, suggest”, verb), from sub (“from below, under”) + gerō (“bear, carry”, verb).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.