suggestion

noun

sug·​ges·​tion səg-ˈjes-chən How to pronounce suggestion (audio)
sə-ˈjes-,
-ˈjesh-
1
a
: the act or process of suggesting
b
: something suggested
2
a
: the process by which a physical or mental state is influenced by a thought or idea
the power of suggestion
b
: the process by which one thought leads to another especially through association of ideas
3
: a slight indication : trace
a suggestion of a smile

Examples of suggestion in a Sentence

Do you have any suggestions? Please send comments and suggestions to our post office box. I have a suggestion: call the store and ask them about it. I'd like to offer a suggestion. I reject his suggestion that we shouldn't have helped them. trying to influence people's thoughts by using suggestion The director relies on the power of suggestion rather than explicitly showing the murder.
Recent Examples on the Web The committee had sent two surveys to Clay families and staff: one soliciting new name suggestions, then another later one asking people to pick from a list of name options that the committee proposed. Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024 How to get rid of lice While suggestions exist online of getting rid of lice by suffocating them with occlusive agents such as mayonnaise or oils, these have no effect on nits and have been met with only minimal success against live lice, says Ritchie. USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024 But the suggestion flattered Garcia, who also appreciated Johnson’s tone of humility. David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024 Another suggestion from the astronomical society: the shadow of a leafy tree. Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 15 Mar. 2024 On behalf of everyone who is struggling with health problems, and who therefore doesn’t need to take on a whole other battle against unwanted advice and suggestions about their own body, please don’t presume to judge anyone’s drive to be well. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 The case has drawn the scrutiny of development experts and lawmakers, amid suggestions that the World Bank failed to police how its money was being used and even took steps to cover up wrongdoing. Alan Rappeport, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 John Kell Send thoughts or suggestions to CIO Intelligence here. John Kell, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 Your example gives concrete suggestions for how to manage this challenging scenario. Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suggestion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of suggestion was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near suggestion

Cite this Entry

“Suggestion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suggestion. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

suggestion

noun
sug·​ges·​tion sə(g)-ˈjes-chən How to pronounce suggestion (audio)
-ˈjesh-
1
a
: the act or process of suggesting
b
: something (as a thought or plan) that is suggested
2
a
: the process by which a physical or mental state is influenced by a thought or idea
the power of suggestion
b
: the process by which one thought leads to another especially through association of ideas
c
: a way of influencing attitudes and behavior hypnotically
3
: a slight indication
a suggestion of a smile

Medical Definition

suggestion

noun
sug·​ges·​tion sə(g)-ˈjes-chən, -ˈjesh- How to pronounce suggestion (audio)
1
a
: the act or process of impressing something (as an idea, attitude, or desired action) upon the mind of another
suggestion in response to propagandaPsychological Abstracts
b
: the process by which a physical or mental state is influenced by a thought or idea
the power of suggestion
2
: something impressed upon the mind by suggestion
the posthypnotic carrying out of suggestions held in the unconsciousG. S. Blum

Legal Definition

suggestion

noun
sug·​ges·​tion
1
a
: the act or process of suggesting
b
: something suggested
2
: an entry on the record of a fact or circumstance (as the death or insolvency of a party) material to a case and essential for the court in making its determination
reference to a party's death in a pleading was not the equivalent of a formal suggestion of death on the recordKissic v. Liberty Nat'l Life Ins. Co., 641 So. 2d 250 (1994)

More from Merriam-Webster on suggestion

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