# suggest

/səˈdʒɛst/ (US) · /sədʒˈɛst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/suggest
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to propose an idea

verb · CEFR A2

to mention an idea or a plan for someone else to think about.

For teachers: to put forward a plan, idea, or candidate for consideration or action.

- I suggest taking the train because the traffic is very heavy today.
- The consultant suggested that the board restructure the department to improve internal communication and reduce overhead costs.

Usage: Often followed by a gerund (suggest doing) or a 'that' clause (suggest that he do).

### 2. to indicate or imply

verb · CEFR B1

to show that something is likely true without saying it in a direct way.

For teachers: to communicate a fact or state of affairs indirectly; to serve as evidence for a particular conclusion.

- The dark clouds suggest that it might rain later this afternoon.
- Preliminary data from the study suggest a strong correlation between sleep quality and cognitive performance in older adults.

Usage: Usually takes a non-human subject like 'evidence', 'data', or 'research'.

### 3. to bring to mind

verb · CEFR B2

to make you think of something else because of a similarity.

For teachers: to evoke a mental image or idea through association or resemblance.

- The smell of the sea always suggests happy childhood holidays to me.
- The melody's haunting quality suggests the vast, empty landscapes of the composer's northern homeland.

## Examples

- I suggest we go for a walk.
- The waiter will suggest a good wine to pair with your dinner if you ask him.
- Recent data suggest that the economic recovery may be slower than initially anticipated, though analysts remain cautiously optimistic about the long-term outlook.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.