propose
propose — verb
1. to present a plan or suggestion that others can examine and decide whether to ac
to present a plan or suggestion that others can examine and decide whether to accept.
Hamza proposed a new system for sharing office supplies across departments.
propose + noun phrase
At the town hall, several residents proposed planting more trees along the main road.
propose + gerund
The manager proposed that the team hold a short meeting every Monday morning.
propose + that-clause
The committee proposed a new policy for handling customer complaints within two days.
propose + noun phrase (policy)
During the budget meeting, the finance director proposed cutting travel costs by fifteen percent.
- propose a plan
- propose a change
- propose a solution
- propose that ... should ...
- propose doing something
- suggest
less formal; used in everyday conversation, not just in meetings or committees
- recommend
implies the speaker approves of the idea and actively supports it
- put forward
a phrasal verb meaning to present an idea for consideration, common in British English
- move
used in formal meetings when a member formally makes a proposal that others vote on
Grammar Patterns
propose + noun phrase
propose + that-clause
propose + doing
Usage Note
Commonly takes a that-clause (with the base verb, especially in formal English) or a gerund phrase. The direct object is always an idea or action, never a person — for people, use sense 2.
Common Mistakes
2. to suggest someone's name for a position, award, or membership in a group, espec
to suggest someone's name for a position, award, or membership in a group, especially when candidates are being put forward during an election or committee process.
The chairperson proposed Andrew as the new treasurer of the science club.
propose + person + as + role
Professor Chen was proposed for a seat on the national ethics council.
passive: be proposed for + position
Ife proposed Samir for membership in the local writers' association.
propose + person + for + membership
The board proposed Dr. Okonkwo for the role of medical director at the county hospital.
passive alternative: proposed for a role
Several members proposed Theo as the next chair of the student welfare committee.
- propose someone for a position
- propose someone as chair
- propose someone for membership
- be proposed for an award
- nominate
the more common word for putting someone forward for an election or award; 'propose' is more formal
- put forward
a less formal phrasal verb with the same meaning
- recommend
softer; does not necessarily involve a vote or formal meeting
Grammar Patterns
propose + person + as/for + position
be proposed as/for + position
Usage Note
The person proposed is followed by 'for' (a position or award) or 'as' (a role). This sense frequently appears in passive constructions in committee meetings and election contexts, especially British English.
Common Mistakes
3. to formally ask someone to become your husband or wife, typically in a romantic
to formally ask someone to become your husband or wife, typically in a romantic setting such as a special meal, trip, or private moment.
Felipe proposed to Yan during a quiet picnic by the lake in late spring.
propose to + person (intransitive)
Samir got down on one knee and proposed to his partner at the family dinner.
Tariq is planning to propose to Putri during their trip to the Alishan forest.
collocation: plan to propose
Paul proposed to his girlfriend at the top of Taipei 101 as the sun went down.
Some people prefer to propose in private rather than in a crowded restaurant.
generic subject: some people
- propose to someone
- plan to propose
- propose on one knee
- accept a proposal
- ask for someone's hand in marriage
a very traditional, old-fashioned expression
- pop the question
an informal idiom meaning to propose marriage
- divorce
to legally end a marriage, at the opposite end of the relationship timeline
Grammar Patterns
propose to + person
Usage Note
Always followed by 'to' when the person being asked is named. Unlike the other senses, this sense is intransitive — it never takes a direct object. You cannot say 'propose someone' to mean ask them to marry you.
Common Mistakes
4. to invite people at a social gathering to raise their glasses of drink in honor
to invite people at a social gathering to raise their glasses of drink in honor of someone or to celebrate a special occasion.
At the wedding reception, the best man proposed a toast to the newlyweds.
propose a toast to + person (wedding context)
Ilan stood up and proposed a toast to celebrate the company's tenth year in business.
At the retirement dinner, several colleagues proposed a toast to the departing manager.
The host proposed a toast to the visiting scholars from Japan and South Korea.
propose a toast to + guests
During the reunion, the oldest graduate proposed a toast to those who could not attend.
- propose a toast
- propose a toast to the bride and groom
- propose a toast to the birthday girl
- offer a toast
slightly less formal; can be used in the same contexts
- raise a glass to
emphasises the physical gesture rather than the verbal act
Grammar Patterns
propose a toast to + person/event
Usage Note
The object is almost always the fixed phrase 'a toast'. The person or event being honored is introduced by 'to'. This sense belongs to formal social events such as weddings, retirement parties, and banquets.
Common Mistakes
5. to have a specific action or course of action as a plan that one intends to carr
to have a specific action or course of action as a plan that one intends to carry out in the future.
The company proposes to open three new stores on the south coast next year.
propose to + infinitive (organization as subject)
Iker proposed to finish the engineering report by Friday afternoon.
The university proposes to build a new student centre near the main gate.
The government proposes to invest heavily in renewable energy over the next five years.
propose to + infinitive (government policy)
Andrew proposed to expand the family business into online retail this year.
- propose to build
- propose to increase
- propose to introduce
- propose to spend
Grammar Patterns
propose to + infinitive
Usage Note
Always followed by a to-infinitive. This sense is more formal than 'plan to' or 'intend to'. The subject is usually an organization, institution, or a person in a professional or official role.
Common Mistakes
6. to think of and state a specific plan of action, especially when dealing with a
to think of and state a specific plan of action, especially when dealing with a problem, challenge, or difficult situation.
When the main bridge was damaged, the city council proposed a temporary ferry service.
propose + solution noun phrase
The engineering team spent the afternoon trying to propose a fix for the server failure.
"What do you propose we do about falling sales?" the marketing director asked Paul.
question: what do you propose + clause
After the flood destroyed the crops, the agriculture department proposed an emergency relief plan.
propose + noun phrase (plan) in response to a crisis
The IT manager proposed a new backup strategy to prevent future data loss.
- propose a plan
- propose a solution
- propose a scheme
- what do you propose
- come up with
less formal; implies thinking of a plan rather than formally stating it
- devise
stresses the mental effort of creating or inventing a solution
- put forward
a phrasal verb meaning to present a plan for consideration
Grammar Patterns
propose + noun phrase (plan/solution)
what do you propose
Usage Note
Often appears in questions ('What do you propose?') or with nouns like 'plan', 'scheme', 'solution'. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 puts forward an idea for group discussion, while sense 6 formulates a concrete plan to handle a specific situation.
Common Mistakes
To suggest that everyone raise their glasses and drink to honor someone.
At the wedding, Maya proposed a toast to the happy couple.
Brian proposed his father's health at the family dinner.
Word family
- proposalnounB1
- propositionnounC1
- proposedadjectiveB2
- proposernounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
'Propose' is the most formal of the four: it implies presenting a fully-formed idea at a meeting or in a structured discussion, often expecting others to vote or decide on it. 'Suggest' is much broader and less committed — you can suggest an idea casually over lunch without expecting a formal decision. 'Recommend' goes further than suggest: the speaker has evaluated the options and is actively urging others to accept their preferred choice. 'Put forward' is a phrasal verb common in British English, sitting between 'suggest' and 'propose' in formality. A committee member puts forward a proposal for discussion; a colleague suggests grabbing coffee; a doctor recommends a treatment; a chairperson proposes a motion for a vote.
Common collocations
Nouns
- propose a plan
- propose a change
- propose a toast
- propose a solution
Adverbs
- originally propose
- formally propose
- tentatively propose
Phrases
- propose that
- propose to do
- propose doing
- what do you propose
Prepositions
- propose to
- propose for
- propose as
Etymology
'Propose' entered English through Old French 'proposer', which itself was built from Latin 'proponere' — a combination of 'pro-' (forward) and 'ponere' (to place or put). The core image is of placing something in front of others so they can see and consider it. The marriage sense appeared later, in the 1700s, drawing on the same idea of putting a question forward for someone to accept or reject.