commend
Americanverb (used with object)
-
commends,
present (3rd person singular)
-
commended,
past participle, past
-
commending
present participle
-
to present, mention, or praise as worthy of confidence, notice, kindness, etc.; recommend.
to commend a friend to another;
to commend an applicant for employment.
- Antonyms:
- censure
-
to entrust; give in charge; deliver with confidence.
I commend my child to your care.
-
to cite or name with approval or special praise.
to commend a soldier for bravery.
-
Feudal Law. to place (oneself or one's land) under another's protection so as to become his vassal.
-
Archaic. to recommend (a person) to the kind remembrance of another.
verb
-
to present or represent as being worthy of regard, confidence, kindness, etc; recommend
-
to give in charge; entrust
-
to express a good opinion of; praise
-
to give the regards of
commend me to your aunt
Synonym Usage
See approve.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
commendablenessnoun
-
commendernoun
-
overcommendverb (used with object)
-
commendableadjective
-
commendatoryadjective
-
commendablyadverb
-
commendinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
commendsimple
-
commendssimple
-
have commendedperfect
-
has commendedperfect
-
am commendingprogressive
-
are commendingprogressive
-
is commendingprogressive
-
have been commendingperfect progressive
-
has been commendingperfect progressive
Past
-
commendedsimple
-
had commendedperfect
-
was commendingprogressive
-
were commendingprogressive
-
had been commendingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of commend
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English commenden, from Latin commendāre, equivalent to com- com- + -mendāre, combining form of mandāre; see mandate
Explanation
Have you ever shouted "Bravo!" at the end of a play or cooed "Good boy!" to the dog when he followed a command? Then you know how to commend someone — in other words, to express approval aloud. The most common meaning of commend is "to compliment." You commend someone when you tell them "Well done!" You can even say "I commend you on your hard work." Back in the days of Charles Dickens, commend often meant to put (someone or something) in the hands of someone else for safekeeping. Case in point: David Copperfield was out of luck when his cruel stepdad commended him to the equally cruel schoolmaster Mr. Creakle at Salem house.
Vocabulary lists containing commend
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act II
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I've Been to the Mountaintop" (1968)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Much Ado About Nothing
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"Everything has been free and I want to commend the Kano government for this scheme because without it, many couldn't have afforded to marry due to the high cost of living."
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
We commend Mary Marslender for her dedicated advocacy on behalf of patients with disabilities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
“We commend Governor Newsom for his leadership in making this much needed change a reality.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
"They risked their safety in a very dangerous and very volatile situation - I commend them for their dedication to duty."
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
Well, I see that this wise course does not commend itself to you,” he said.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
"More generally, the SNP welcomes the verdict against Mr Linden and commends the bravery of the individuals who came forward and shared their experiences with the police."
From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2026
There is an amiability to Mr. Dale’s voice, though, that commends him both to the ear and to the material.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025
In a statement, the management said it "welcomes the release of its editor and commends the courtesy, professionalism, and attentiveness demonstrated by investigators throughout the process".
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2025
Glenn Whipp also commends him for “capturing the writer’s tragic flaws and winning charm.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2024
These pure principles, congenial alike to God and men, he welcomes to himself, and commends to all his fellowmen in sacrificial partnership.
From Abraham Lincoln's Cardinal Traits; A Study in Ethics, with an Epilogue Addressed to Theologians by Clark S. Beardslee
Rodriguez has been a vocal advocate for placing the cameras across Texas and has commended their use in Laredo and elsewhere for allowing a new approach to detecting crime.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
Vince Miller, an attorney representing Garrido, commended the Sheriff’s Department for doing “the right thing” in this case.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
Von der Leyen commended Sanchez on the "swift handling" of the crisis that saw tens of thousands of people stream into Ceuta from Morocco -- almost all of whom have since left.
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
Last month, President Lee Jae Myung commended Chey during the unveiling of a landmark AI investment plan, calling him and Samsung chairman JY Lee "Heroes of Korean People."
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
He commended her on her thoroughness, but said the idea of presenting a subject is the ability to focus.
From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia
During Sharaa's last visit in January, Putin said "much has been accomplished in terms of restoring our interstate relations", commending Sharaa for his "efforts to restore Syria's territorial integrity".
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
He has tried to walk a tightrope, commending citizens for exercising their right to protest but urging them not to “take the bait” by crossing into violence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 26, 2026
While commending the fact that these issues are finally being treated seriously, Mr Fotheringham believes it will take years to drag Australia out of a housing crisis that has been building for decades.
From BBC ● Apr. 11, 2025
At just 21, Brown's post has been viewed millions of times across platforms like X and Instagram, with countless people online commending the actress for speaking up.
From Salon ● Mar. 5, 2025
“Officer Delinko, you’re back on the road, effective immediately. In addition, the sergeant has written a letter commending the outstanding job you did in capturing our suspect. This will become part of your permanent file.”
From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
