suggestion
B1 (Intermediate)Neutral to formal. Common in professional, academic, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
An idea or plan that is offered for consideration.
A slight hint or indication of something; the process of making someone think of something without direct statement.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can refer to both a concrete proposal ('I have a suggestion for the meeting agenda') and a subtle psychological influence ('The advertisement works by suggestion').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical difference. The verb 'to suggest' is used identically. Slight preference in UK English for 'put forward a suggestion' where US might use 'make a suggestion'.
Connotations
Generally neutral in both varieties. Can carry a polite nuance when offering advice ('Might I make a suggestion?').
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N + for + NP (a suggestion for improvement)N + that-clause (the suggestion that we leave early)N + about/as to + NP/wh-clause (suggestions about how to proceed)under + N (under your suggestion)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “at/on someone's suggestion”
- “open to suggestions”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in meetings and reports to propose new strategies or solutions ('The board will consider your suggestion').
Academic
Used to propose interpretations or avenues for research ('The paper concludes with suggestions for future study').
Everyday
Common in social planning and problem-solving ('Do you have any suggestions for a good film?').
Technical
In psychology, refers to the influencing of thoughts or behaviour ('hypnotic suggestion').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I suggest we table this for now.
- What would you suggest for pudding?
American English
- I suggest we put this on hold for now.
- What do you suggest for dessert?
adverb
British English
- He nodded suggestively, implying he knew more.
- The curtains were suggestively half-drawn.
American English
- She smiled suggestively.
- The article was suggestively titled.
adjective
British English
- The report was highly suggestive of financial mismanagement.
- He made a suggestive remark.
American English
- The data is suggestive of a broader trend.
- Her tone was subtly suggestive.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Thank you for your suggestion.
- That's a good suggestion!
- I'd like to make a suggestion about the project timetable.
- She rejected my suggestion politely.
- The article makes several pertinent suggestions for policy reform.
- There was a suggestion of arrogance in his tone.
- The painting is executed with a mere suggestion of detail, leaving much to the viewer's imagination.
- He acted under the suggestion of his legal counsel.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'gesture' in 'suggestion' – a gesture of putting an idea forward.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE OBJECTS OFFERED ('put forward a suggestion'), IDEAS ARE INFLUENCES ('the suggestion of mint in the sauce').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'предложение' when it means 'offer' (commercial) or 'sentence' (grammatical). The English 'suggestion' is primarily an idea, not a formal commercial bid.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'suggestion' as a countable noun without an article ('He gave good suggestion'). Correct: 'He gave a good suggestion'. Confusing 'suggestion' (idea) with 'advice' (uncountable recommendation).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'suggestion' used to mean a slight hint or trace?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily a countable noun (e.g., 'a helpful suggestion', 'several suggestions'). It can be uncountable when referring to the general process or influence (e.g., 'the power of suggestion').
A 'suggestion' is any idea offered for consideration, often informal. A 'recommendation' is a stronger, more formal suggestion based on expertise or endorsement, implying it is the advised course of action.
Common prepositions are 'for' ('a suggestion for you'), 'about'/'as to' ('suggestions about the venue'), and 'that' in a defining clause ('the suggestion that we meet').
No. The correct patterns are: suggest DOING something ('I suggest leaving early') or suggest THAT someone DO something (subjunctive) ('I suggest that he leave early'). 'Suggest to do' is incorrect.