commend
gb/kəmˈɛnd/ us/kəmˈɛnd/
B2
English
~ 8200
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
to praise, especially officially
to say that you admire someone or something, often in a serious or official way
Usage pattern:
to commend [someone] for/on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "commend" with "command" or "comment" because they look similar. "Commend" means to praise; "command" means to order someone to do something; "comment" means to give an opinion or remark.
Synonyms
praise (More common and general; can be used in both casual and formal situations, not just official ones.)
|
applaud (Emphasizes strong approval or admiration, sometimes public or enthusiastic.)
Antonyms
criticize (Means to express disapproval or point out faults, the opposite of expressing admiration.)
Collocations
commend someone for
|commend someone on
|be commended for
|highly commended
|commendable effort
|officially commended
Themes
communication
|work
|social
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The teacher commended the students for their hard work on the project.
- She was publicly commended for her honesty in returning the lost wallet.
- The report commends the company for improving its environmental practices.
- Several firefighters were formally commended for bravery after the rescue.
- In his speech, the mayor commended the volunteers on their dedication.
Learner examples
- The manager commended him for his good work.
- Our coach commended the team on their win.
- She was commended for helping the old man.
- The boss commended the staff for coming in early.
- He commended the children on their good behavior.
Verb
formal
C1
action
2
to recommend as suitable
to say that someone or something is good and should be chosen or noticed
Usage pattern:
to commend [something] to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners often use "commend" when "recommend" is more natural in everyday speech. "Commend" usually sounds formal and is common in official writing, meetings, or speeches, especially in the pattern "commend [something] to [someone]".
Synonyms
recommend (Most common everyday word; less formal and more widely used than "commend".)
|
endorse (Often used for public or official support, especially for products, ideas, or people in public roles.)
Antonyms
discourage (To advise someone not to do something or not to choose it, opposite of recommending it.)
Collocations
commend something to someone
|strongly commend
|commend for approval
|commend to the committee
|commend for consideration
|commend this idea
Themes
business
|work
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I commend this proposal to the board for serious consideration.
- The committee commended his name to the president for the vacant position.
- The report commends several practical solutions to policymakers.
- We would like to commend this book to anyone interested in urban history.
- The panel commended three candidates to the hiring manager for interview.
Learner examples
- I would like to commend this plan to you.
- The director commended her name to the company for the job.
- He commended the restaurant to his friends.
- The teacher commended this website to her students.
- They commended the idea to the committee.
Verb
formal
C2
action
3
to entrust to care or protection
to formally ask a person or a god to take care of someone or something
Usage pattern:
to commend [someone/something] to [someone's] care
Synonyms
entrust (Neutral formal word; focuses on giving responsibility, without the religious or ceremonial tone that "commend" can have.)
Antonyms
abandon (To leave someone or something without care or protection, the opposite of entrusting them to care.)
Collocations
commend his soul to God
|commend someone to your prayers
|commend to God's keeping
|commend to your care
|commend to your protection
Themes
religion
|formal
|social
|relationships
|communication
Examples
- The chaplain commended the sailors to God's protection before they left the harbor.
- In his final letter, he commended his children to the care of his closest friend.
- The priest bowed his head and commended her soul to God.
- I commend this child to your loving care while I am away.
- They commended the victims to God's mercy in a short ceremony.
Learner examples
- The priest commended his soul to God.
- She commended her children to her sister's care.
- The captain commended the team to God's protection.
- He commended the baby to his grandparents while he worked.
- They commended the travelers to God's mercy.
Verb
formal
C2
state
4
to seem attractive or acceptable
to seem good or right to someone so that they like or choose it
Usage pattern:
to commend itself to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "commend itself" is reflexive in the normal sense, but it is a fixed formal expression meaning "seem attractive or acceptable." It is almost always used in the pattern "commend itself to [someone]."
Synonyms
appeal (Common verb and noun; slightly less formal and very frequent in everyday English.)
|
recommend itself (Less common phrase; emphasizes that something seems good on its own merits.)
Antonyms
put off (Informal phrasal verb meaning to make someone not like or want something.)
Collocations
commend itself to
|solution that commends itself
|option that commends itself
|idea that commends itself
|policy that commends itself
Themes
thoughts
|business
|formal
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The plan does not immediately commend itself to me.
- This simple solution naturally commends itself to most small businesses.
- The idea of cutting services hardly commends itself to voters.
- His direct style may not commend itself to everyone.
- A compromise approach may commend itself to both sides of the dispute.
Learner examples
- The new plan does not commend itself to me.
- This easy answer may commend itself to many people.
- The idea of working at night does not commend itself to her.
- His strict method may not commend itself to all students.
- The cheaper option clearly commends itself to the manager.
Grammar
Dictionary form
commend
IPA
GB/kəmˈɛnd/
US/kəmˈɛnd/
Syllables & stress
com - mend (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (mend)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: commend
- 3rd Person Singular: commends
- Present Participle: commending
- Past: commended
Word family
Forms
commends
verb
commending
verb
commended
verb
Core family
Related words
Advanced or less common
commendatory
adjective
Expressions
commend itself to someone
1/kəmˈɛnd ɪtsˈɛlf tə sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
formal
seem attractive or acceptable to someone
for an idea or plan to seem good or right to someone so that they like it or may choose it
Examples
- The proposal clearly commends itself to anyone concerned about costs.
- A flexible working arrangement may commend itself to both staff and management.
commend someone for something
1/kəmˈɛnd sˈʌmwˌʌn fɚ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
praise a person for something
to say that you admire what someone did or how they are in a specific way
Examples
- The judge commended her for her courage in speaking out.
- Teachers often commend students for small improvements to keep them motivated.
commend someone on something
1/kəmˈɛnd sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈɔn sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
praise a person on an achievement
to tell someone they did well on a specific thing, like a job or result
Examples
- Her manager commended her on the way she handled the difficult client.
- The professor commended the group on their clear and detailed presentation.
commend something to someone
1/kəmˈɛnd sˈʌmθɪŋ tə sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
formal
formally recommend something to someone
to formally say that something is good and that a person should think about it or choose it
Examples
- I would like to commend this proposal to the committee for urgent consideration.
- The author commends this approach to readers who work in public policy.
commend to your attention
1/kəmˈɛnd tə jˈʊɹ ətˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
formally draw someone's attention to something
to formally say that someone should look at or think about something because it is important
Examples
- I would like to commend to your attention the figures on page 12.
- May I commend to your attention the excellent work done by the support staff this year?