auto-suggest

1 of 2

noun

au·​to-sug·​gest ˌȯ-tō-sə(g)-ˈjest 

variants or autosuggest

: a feature found in many computer programs (such as search engines and text messaging apps) that analyzes a user's typing based on various factors (such as the surrounding context, the user's typing history, and the first few typed letters) and presents a list of words and phrases that can be selected and entered

Autocomplete, as the name suggests, is the feature that completes a partial search query by matching the character string that the user types. Autosuggest is the clever little feature that makes it seem like Google is nesting in your brain, predicting what you want to search seemingly before you even know it yourself.

—Louise Merry

auto-suggest

2 of 2

verb

variants or autosuggest

auto-suggested or autosuggested; auto-suggesting or autosuggesting; auto-suggests or autosuggests

transitive verb

1

of software : to present (content options, such as a list of words and phrases that can be selected and entered) based on an analysis of various factors (such as the surrounding context, the user's typing history, and the first few letters typed) : to offer (content options) by means of auto-suggest

On some emails, Inbox [an email service] auto-suggests three short replies. Tap one, add your edits, then hit send.

—Andy Wolber

2

: to influence (oneself or one's attitudes, behavior, etc.) or be influenced by (a thought, etc.) by means of auto-suggestion

… we constantly auto-suggest negative thoughts. "I'm too fat," "I'm not clever enough," "I'm a smoker."

—Eleanor Bailey

And, of course, making theatre is a kind of con as well. "The process of magic and the process of confidence games, and to a certain extent the process of drama, are all processes of autosuggestion," [David] Mamet said. "They cause the audience to autosuggest themselves in a way which seems perfectly logical, but is actually false."

—Hilton Als

Word History

Etymology

Noun

derivative of auto-suggest entry 2

Verb

auto- + suggest, after auto-suggestion

First Known Use

Noun

2001, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

auto-suggest

noun

au·​to-sug·​gest

ˌȯt-ō-sə(g)-ˈjest

: a computer feature that analyzes a user's typing and presents a list of words and phrases that can be selected and entered