suggest
/səˈdʒɛst
/verb
1 [reporting verb] Put forward for consideration: [with clause]: I suggest that we wait a day or two [with direct speech]: ‘Maybe you ought to get an expert,’ she suggested [with object]: Ruth suggested a holiday...
- I suggested to her we start our own scholarly website and she was very taken with that idea.
- Her psychiatrist suggested to her parents that they should take her back to Nigeria for a long holiday.
- We have suggested to the Mayors that they form a League of Cities to lobby for a better deal.
Synonyms
propose, put forward, submit, recommend, advocate;
advise, propound, urge, encourage, counsel;
move, table
2 [with object] Cause one to think that (something) exists or is the case: finds of lead coffins suggested a cemetery north of the river [with clause]: the temperature wasn’t as tropical as the bright sunlight may have suggested...
- An unfinished lead buckle suggests some metalworking was taking place at the site, and there are also crucibles.
- Residues of zinc and lead may suggest experiments in pottery glaze manufacture.
- The fact a urine sample had been requested may reasonably have suggested an infection.
Synonyms
indicate, lead to the belief, give the impression, give the idea, argue, point to, demonstrate, show, evince
hint, insinuate, imply, intimate, drive at, indicate
informal get at
2.1State or express indirectly: [with clause]: are you suggesting that I should ignore her? [with object]: the seduction scenes suggest his guilt and her loneliness...
- Such scenes suggest the larger problem with the film, which is chiefly one of subtlety.
- These figures suggest a further significant increase, but they need to be treated with some caution.
- It has not been suggested that it has any reference, expressed or implied, to arbitration.
2.2Evoke: the theatrical interpretation of weather and water almost suggests El Greco...
- It was certainly a nicer name than platinum, which suggested to me something flat and rather dull.
Synonyms
convey, express, impart, imply, intimate, connote, smack of;
put one in mind of, bring to mind, remind one of, evoke, evince, conjure up, summon up, call up;
refer to, allude to, signify
2.3 (suggest itself) (Of an idea) come into one’s mind: a simpler explanation suggested itself to me...
- The idea does not even suggest itself to the governmental or party leaders.
- The final question in these matters suggests itself.
- Once you understand the pattern, the strategy suggests itself.
Derivatives
suggester
- If the lucky, lucky suggester would like to get in touch, they'll find something very interesting gracing their letter box in the next couple of days.
- If I do, the suggester will be duly noted in anything I write about them.
- ‘Tim Belcher used to call catchers ‘suggesters,’ ‘said Mariners catcher Dan Wilson.’
Origin
Early 16th century: from Latin suggest- 'suggested, prompted', from the verb suggerere, from sub- 'from below' + gerere 'bring'.