suggestion

/səˈdʒestʃən/ (bre, ipa) · /səˈdʒestʃən/ (ame, ipa) · /səg-ˈjes-chən sə-ˈjes-, -ˈjesh-/ (ame, mw)

suggestion — noun

  • suggestionsingular
  • suggestionsplural

1. a thought, plan, or piece of advice that you offer to someone as a possible choi

1.名詞A2
釋義

a thought, plan, or piece of advice that you offer to someone as a possible choice for them to think about.

例句

Obi made a helpful suggestion about how to improve the team's workflow.

collocation: make + a suggestion

Do you have any suggestions for where we should hold the party this year?

suggestion + for + question clause

同義詞
  • proposal

    more formal than suggestion, often used in business or official contexts

  • recommendation

    stronger than suggestion — implies the speaker thinks this is the best option

  • advice

    focuses on guidance for someone's benefit rather than just an idea to consider

  • idea

    broader than suggestion — can be any thought, not necessarily offered to someone else

文法句型

suggestion + for + noun/-ing

suggestion + that-clause

make + a suggestion

at + someone's + suggestion

用法筆記

Often followed by a that-clause using the subjunctive form of the verb (e.g., 'suggested that the meeting be moved'). In everyday speech, some speakers use 'should' instead of the subjunctive.

常見錯誤

❌He gave me a suggestion to go to the doctor.
✅He suggested that I go to the doctor.' or 'He gave me the suggestion that I go to the doctor.
💡'suggestion' is less natural with a to-infinitive; use 'suggest that + clause' instead.
❌I have a suggestion for improve the system.
✅I have a suggestion for improving the system.
💡a noun or -ing form follows 'suggestion for', not a bare verb.

2. a meaning communicated indirectly, so that the listener must work out what the s

2.名詞B2
釋義

a meaning communicated indirectly, so that the listener must work out what the speaker intends rather than being told plainly.

例句

Constanza took her boss's comment as a suggestion that she was not working hard enough.

suggestion + that-clause for indirect meaning

The article contained a strong suggestion that the company had been hiding its losses.

同義詞
  • hint

    more deliberate and friendly — a hint is often an intentional clue

  • implication

    stronger than suggestion — the meaning is logically necessary from what was said

  • insinuation

    more negative than suggestion — implies something unpleasant or damaging

反義詞
  • statement

    a direct, explicit expression rather than an indirect one

文法句型

suggestion + that-clause

there is/was a suggestion that...

用法筆記

Often used in negative contexts to imply something negative or critical (e.g., 'a suggestion that someone is dishonest'). The noun is usually singular in this sense.

常見錯誤

❌He gave a suggestion that it might rain without actually saying it.
✅There was a suggestion in his comment that it might rain.
💡the noun itself already carries the indirect meaning; avoid redundant phrases like 'without actually saying it.'

3. a tiny amount of something that is only just noticeable, such as a mild taste, f

3.名詞B2
釋義

a tiny amount of something that is only just noticeable, such as a mild taste, faint smell, or slight colour present in something.

例句

The sauce had a faint suggestion of lemon that made it taste fresh.

collocation: a suggestion of [flavour]

There was a suggestion of sadness in Élise's voice when she talked about leaving.

collocation: a suggestion of [emotion]

同義詞
  • trace

    more neutral — can refer to any very small amount, not necessarily a sensory impression

  • hint

    very similar to suggestion in this sense, often interchangeable ('a hint of lemon')

  • touch

    less precise than suggestion — can mean a small amount of something added deliberately

文法句型

a suggestion of + noun

just a suggestion of...

用法筆記

Almost always appears in the singular form 'a suggestion of + noun'. Describes sensory impressions — tastes, smells, colours, or emotions that are present but not strong.

常見錯誤

❌There were suggestions of smoke in the air.
✅There was a suggestion of smoke in the air.
💡this sense uses the singular almost exclusively.

4. the way that a thought or belief can enter a person's mind and change how they f

4.名詞C1
釋義

the way that a thought or belief can enter a person's mind and change how they feel or act, even though they are not fully aware that it is happening — often discussed in hypnosis, advertising, and the placebo effect.

例句

Under hypnosis, Kenji was highly responsive to the power of suggestion from the therapist.

phrase: the power of suggestion

The placebo effect shows the power of suggestion — patients heal because they believe they will.

同義詞
  • hypnosis

    more specific — hypnosis is a technique that uses suggestion, but also involves an altered state of consciousness

  • influence

    broader than suggestion — can be conscious or unconscious, and does not necessarily involve an idea entering the mind indirectly

文法句型

the power of suggestion

through suggestion

by suggestion

open to suggestion

用法筆記

Unlike the other senses, this one is uncountable and usually refers to a psychological mechanism rather than a specific thing that is suggested. Common in discussions of hypnosis, advertising, and the placebo effect.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor used suggestions to help the patient relax.
✅The doctor used the power of suggestion to help the patient relax.
💡this psychological sense is uncountable and typically appears in the fixed expression 'the power of suggestion.'