Suggest Means to Carry Something Underneath
To suggest is to put an idea forward. The Latin means to carry under, which fits both a polite proposal and the power of suggestion.
To suggest is to put forward an idea for consideration, or to hint at something. The Latin *suggerere* means to carry or bring up from underneath, and the second sense keeps that hidden quality: the *power of suggestion* works below awareness, which is why suggested ideas can feel like your own.
- To propose. *I suggest we wait.*
- To hint or imply. *The evidence suggests otherwise.*
- To bring to mind. *The shape suggests a bird.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | suggest | Suggest an alternative. |
| Past | suggested | As suggested. |
| Noun | suggestion | A helpful suggestion. |
| Adjective | suggestive | Suggestive of a fault. |
| Adjective | suggestible | Highly suggestible. |
How it is used in a sentence
- I suggest that we postpone.Formal proposals often take the subjunctive.
- The symptoms suggest an infection.Indicate.
- It was only a suggestion.Softening a proposal.
Proposing words
- Suggest — put forward for consideration
- Propose — put forward formally
- Recommend — advise a course as the best
- Advise — give guidance based on knowledge
- Insist — leave no room to decline
From Latin *suggerere*, to bring up from below, from *sub* and *gerere*, to carry — the same verb as in *gesture*, *digest* and *register*.
Suggest to do or suggest doing?
Suggest doing, or suggest that someone do something. Suggest me to go is not English.
What is the power of suggestion?
The effect of an idea on behaviour or perception without conscious reasoning. It underlies placebo effects and leading questions.