suggest

verb

sug·​gest səg-ˈjest 

sə-ˈjest

suggested; suggesting; suggests

transitive verb

1

a

: to mention or imply as a possibility

suggested that he might bring his family

b

: to propose as desirable or fitting

suggest a stroll

c

: to offer for consideration or as a hypothesis

suggest a solution to a problem

2

a

: to call to mind by thought or association

the explosion … suggested sabotage

—F. L. Paxson

b

: to serve as a motive or inspiration for

a play suggested by a historic incident

3

a

: to call forth : evoke

b

obsolete : to seek to influence : seduce

suggester noun

Synonyms

• allude
• hint
• imply
• indicate
• infer
• insinuate
• intimate

Choose the Right Synonym for suggest

suggest, imply, hint, intimate, insinuate mean to convey an idea indirectly.

suggest may stress putting into the mind by association of ideas, awakening of a desire, or initiating a train of thought.

a film title that suggests its subject matter

imply is close to suggest but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed.

measures implying that bankruptcy was imminent

hint implies the use of slight or remote suggestion with a minimum of overt statement.

hinted that she might get the job

intimate stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor.

intimates that there is more to the situation than meets the eye

insinuate applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner.

insinuated that there were shady dealings

Examples of suggest in a Sentence

We suggested to the committee that they review the case again.

It was suggested that we leave early.

He suggested several different ways of dealing with the problem.

Who would you suggest for the job?

They suggested a restaurant we might want to try.

I suggest caution in a situation like this.

The evidence suggests arson as the cause of the fire.

There is nothing to suggest that the two events are connected.

As the name suggests, a yarn winder is a device used to wind balls of yarn.

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite bold assertions from some suggesting AI/ML could completely replace engineers and SREs, the reality remains different. —Tom Wilkie, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

Although the threat of nuclear war has declined since the Cold War, growing geopolitical tensions have caused analysts to suggest the risk is once again on the rise. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024

Over the years, none of his primary-care doctors suggested a test, either. —Ingfei Chen, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2024

But current data suggest the wave will peak later than in previous years, and will perhaps be smaller overall. —Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin suggestus, past participle of suggerere to pile up, furnish, suggest, from sub- + gerere to carry

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Phrases Containing suggest

• auto-suggest
• suggest itself

Kids Definition

suggest

verb

sug·​gest sə(g)-ˈjest 

1

a

: to put (as a thought) into a person's mind

b

: to propose as an idea or possibility

suggest going for a walk

2

: to call to mind through close connection or association

the fire suggests arson

suggester noun

Legal Definition

suggest

transitive verb

sug·​gest

1

: to mention or imply as a possibility

2

: to enter on the record as a suggestion