suggestion

noun

sug·​ges·​tion səg-ˈjes-chən 

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

Synonyms

• clue
• cue
• hint
• indication
• inkling
• intimation
• lead

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

McGowan’s role is akin to a consultant, making suggestions that the teams can choose to implement or not. —Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024

Specifically, Miro is incorporating AI features such as Sidekick, which offers contextual suggestions and automates tasks, and Catch-up, which uses AI to summarize important changes and decisions made on the board to help everyone stay informed. —Melody Brue, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

To him, Roth appeared to be offended by such a suggestion, and Van Halen wasn't having it. —Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 21 Oct. 2024

Context: With protests over rising Cook County property taxes and more possible hikes on the horizon to plug a $1 billion 2025 city deficit, this could prove a popular suggestion. —Monica Eng, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing suggestion

• at/on someone's suggestion
• auto-suggestion
• counter-suggestion
• self-suggestion

Kids Definition

suggestion

noun

sug·​ges·​tion sə(g)-ˈjes-chən 

-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- 

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 propaganda

—Psychological 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 unconscious

—G. 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 record

—Kissic v. Liberty Nat'l Life Ins. Co., 641 So. 2d 250 (1994)