Suggestion is a flexibleable to change or be used in different ways noun with a few related meanings. Most often, it means an idea, proposala plan or suggestion put forward for discussion or action, or recommendationadvice telling someone what choice or action is best someone offers for others to consider.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /səgˈdʒɛs.tʃən/
Easy pronunciation: suhg-JESS-chun (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress is on the second syllable, JESS.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Suggestion Meaning
something someone says should be considered or tried
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an idea, plan, or proposal that is offered for consideration
Example: That’s a helpful suggestion for improving the website.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- proposition — A formal or serious proposal that can be considered or accepted.
- proffer — A more formal word for something offered, often an idea or proposal.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Suggestion
Meaning 2
an idea someone puts forward
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an idea that is suggested
Example: The picnic was her suggestion.
Meaning 3
influence that leads someone to think or act a certain way
Part of speech: noun
Definition: persuasion formulated as a suggestion
Example: He responded to the suggestion and changed his mind.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- prompting — A push or influence that leads to an action or thought.
Meaning 4
the use of ideas or commands to influence a hypnotized person
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the act of inducing hypnosis
Example: The therapist used suggestion during the hypnosis session.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- hypnotism — Related to hypnosis, but not a true synonym for suggestion itself in everyday use.
- mesmerism — An older term for hypnotic influence, more specific than suggestion.
Meaning 5
a very small amount or sign of something
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a just detectable amount
Example: There was a suggestion of smoke in the air.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- hint — A small sign or slight amount of something.
- trace — A very small amount or evidence of something.
- tint — Works only in the sense of a slight amount of color, not as a general substitute.
Meaning 6
the way one thought brings up another
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the sequential mental process in which one thought leads to another by association
Example: The word association game depends on suggestion.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Suggestion Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- proposition
- proffer
persuasion or mental influence
- prompting
hypnosis-related influence
- hypnotism
- mesmerism
a slight amount or sign
- hint
- trace
- tint
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Mixing up suggestion meaning an idea or proposal with suggestion meaning hypnosis.
- Using hint as a general synonym for suggestion when it usually means a small sign or indirect clue.
- Using trace or tint for the proposal sense of suggestion.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does suggestion mean?
Suggestion most often means an idea, proposal, or recommendation that someone offers for others to consider.
What are the best synonyms for suggestion?
For the main meaning, good synonyms include proposition and, in more formal use, proffer. Other senses have different synonyms, such as hint or trace for a slight amount.
Is suggestion the same as hint?
Not usually. Hint is closer to the sense of a slight sign or indirect clue, while suggestion most often means an idea or proposal.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
