recommend

[ rek-uh-mend ]

verb (used with object)

1. to present as worthy of confidence, acceptance, use, etc.; commend; mention favorably:

   to recommend an applicant for a job; to recommend a book.

   Synonyms: condone, approve

   Antonyms: condemn

2. to represent or urge as advisable or expedient:

   to recommend caution.

3. to advise, as an alternative; suggest (a choice, course of action, etc.) as appropriate, beneficial, or the like:

   He recommended the blue-plate special. The doctor recommended special exercises for her.

   Synonyms: counsel

4. to make desirable or attractive:

   a plan that has very little to recommend it.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a recommendation.

noun

1. Informal. a recommendation.

recommend

/ ˌrɛkəˈmɛnd /

verb

1. may take a clause as object or an infinitive to advise as the best course or choice; counsel

   to recommend prudence

2. to praise or commend

   to recommend a new book

3. to make attractive or advisable

   the trip has little to recommend it

4. archaic.
   to entrust (a person or thing) to someone else's care; commend

Derived Forms

• ˌrecomˈmender, noun
• ˌrecomˈmendable, adjective

Other Words From

• recom·menda·ble adjective
• recom·mender noun
• prerec·om·mend verb (used with object)
• unrec·om·menda·ble adjective
• unrec·om·mended adjective
• well-recom·mended adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of recommend¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English recommenden, from Medieval Latin recommendāre; equivalent to re- + commend

Word History and Origins

Origin of recommend¹

C14: via Medieval Latin from Latin re- + commendāre to commend

Example Sentences

The office also called for the health system to provide the federal agency with its written policies and protocols for any “early maternal warning systems” designed to prevent maternal deaths, among other recommended actions.

From Los Angeles Times

"The US embassy recommends US citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced."

From BBC

But the line between promotion and science on the show was not always clear, and Oz has recommended homeopathy, alternative medicine and other treatments that critics have called “pseudoscience”.

From BBC

"Higher-income countries' average current diets have higher consumption quantities of most food categories than the recommended quantities in our diet scenarios," DeCesaro said.

From Science Daily

Clark recommends encouragement when parents notice children handling their anger constructively.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• advocate
• back
• confirm
• endorse
• favor
• justify
• praise
• prescribe
• propose
• suggest
• uphold
• urge

How Do You Spell Recommend?

Spelling tips for recommend

The word recommend is hard to spell because it is tricky to know whether the c, the m, and/or the n is doubled. 

How to spell recommend:  The easiest way to remember how to spell recommend is to break it into three parts: re – com – mend. You can keep these three sections in mind with the sentence: “I recommend that you rely commonly on mending.”