propose
/prəˈpəʊz/ IELTSAcademic
verb
- 1.
To suggest a plan, idea, or solution for other people to think about or discuss. It is common in formal, academic, and business English.
- She proposed a new timetable.
- The report proposes three solutions.
- 2.
To ask someone to marry you.
- He proposed on the beach.
- Did he propose last night?
Adinary Nuance
Propose is more formal than suggest. Use propose for plans, ideas, and official statements, especially in writing or meetings. Use suggest for everyday conversation and softer advice. For marriage, propose is the normal word.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- đề xuất
- Spanish
- proponer
- Chinese
- 提议
- Japanese
- 提案する
- Korean
- 제안하다
Etymology
Propose came into English from Old French proposer, from Latin proponere, meaning “put forward.” The original sense of “put forward” still matters today.
Common phrases
propose a planpropose a changepropose a solutionpropose marriage
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is propose formal or informal?
- It is usually more formal than suggest, especially in writing and business English.
- What is the difference between propose and suggest?
- Propose sounds more deliberate and official. Suggest is softer and more common in everyday speech.
- Can I say propose an idea?
- Yes, that is natural. It means you are putting the idea forward for others to consider.
- Does propose only mean marriage?
- No. Marriage is one meaning, but the word is also common for plans, ideas, and solutions.