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suggestion

n. C / U
A2 Elementary Oxford US //səˈdʒɛstʃən// UK //sədʒˈɛstʃən// sug·ges·tion General-service

n. an idea or plan that you offer for someone else to think about. It is a way of telling someone what you think they should do without forcing them.

n. an idea, plan, or possibility proposed for consideration. In psychological contexts, it refers to the process by which one person guides the thoughts, feelings, or behaviour of another.


SIMPLE

Do you have any suggestion for what we should eat tonight?

CONTEXTUAL

The manager welcomed every suggestion from the staff on how to improve the office environment.

COMPLEX

While the witness claimed to remember the suspect clearly, the defence argued that her memory had been altered by the subtle suggestion of the leading questions asked during the initial interview.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English suggestion, from Anglo-Norman suggestioun, sugestiun, from Latin suggestiō, from suggerō (“suggest”, verb), from Latin sub- (“from below, up”) + gerō (“to bring”). Equivalent to suggest + -ion. Related to English up-, cast.

Usage

Countable when referring to specific ideas; uncountable when referring to the abstract process of influencing someone's thoughts.

Pitfall

He gave me a suggestion about to go homeHe suggested that I go homeLearners often use 'suggestion' with an infinitive or 'about' instead of using the verb form 'suggest' with a 'that' clause.

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