rec ‧ om ‧ mend S2 W2 /ˌrekəˈmend/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1 . to advise someone to do something, especially because you have special knowledge of a situation or subject
recommend (that)
I recommend that you get some professional advice.
Doctors strongly recommend that fathers should be present at their baby’s birth.
recommend doing something
I would never recommend using a sunbed on a regular basis.
Sleeping tablets are not recommended in this case.
It is dangerous to exceed the recommended dose.
► Do not say ‘recommend (someone) to do something’. Say recommend doing something or recommend that someone (should) do something .
2 . to say that something or someone is good, or suggest them for a particular purpose or job:
I recommend the butter chicken – it’s delicious.
Can you recommend a good lawyer?
recommend something to somebody
I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in chemistry.
recommend something for something/somebody
Which type of oil do you recommend for my car?
recommend somebody for something
I have decided to recommend you for the directorship.
highly/thoroughly recommend
The hotel is highly recommended.
► Do not say ‘recommend someone something’. Just say recommend something , or say recommend something to someone .
3 . something has much/little/nothing to recommend it used to say that something has many, few, or no good qualities:
The town itself has little to recommend it.
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ adverbs
▪ highly recommend
This book is highly recommended by those who have used it.
▪ heartily recommend (=strongly and enthusiastically)
I heartily recommend the cheese sandwiches.
▪ thoroughly recommend
Overall I can thoroughly recommend this film to anyone with an interest in space travel.
▪ definitely/certainly recommend
We would definitely recommend these books to students in fourth to sixth grade.
▪ personally recommend
Are there any hair colouring products you can personally recommend?
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THESAURUS
▪ recommend to advise someone to do something, especially when you have special knowledge of a situation or subject:
I would strongly recommend buying a good quality bicycle rather than a cheap one.
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The report recommended stricter supervision of the trade in live animals.
▪ tell to tell someone that you think they should do something, especially in order to avoid problems:
We’ve been told that we should start revising early.
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I told you not to drink the water here.
▪ urge to strongly advise someone to do something because you think it is very important:
Her doctor has urged her to see a specialist.
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Police are urging drivers not to come into London this weekend.
▪ advocate to say publicly that something should be done, often something that a lot of people disagree about:
In 1984, he advocated the use of force against Nicaragua.
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I am surprised that dentists don’t advocate the use of fluoride tablets.
▪ endorse to say in an advertisement that you like a product and think that people should use it:
A lot of companies use sports stars to endorse their products.