commendcom‧mend /kəˈmend/ ●○○ verb [transitive] formal 
Inspector Marshall was commended for his professional attitude. The paper was highly commended in the UK Press Awards.► see thesaurus at praise2to tell someone that something is good or that it deserves attention SYN recommend: Colleagues, I commend this report to you. McKellen’s performance had much to commend it (=was very good).3commend itself (to somebody) formal if something commends itself to you, you approve of it: The plan did not commend itself to the Allies.
WORD ORIGINcommend
Origin:
1300-1400 Latin commendare, from com- ( ➔ COM-) + mandare ‘to give over to someone’VERB TABLE
commend
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | commend |
| he, she, it | commends | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | commended |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have commended |
| he, she, it | has commended | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had commended |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will commend |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have commended |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am commending |
| he, she, it | is commending | |
| you, we, they | are commending | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was commending |
| you, we, they | were commending | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been commending |
| he, she, it | has been commending | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been commending |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be commending |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been commending |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The committee has commended achievement tests every four years.
- The leadership Rodriguez displayed is to be commended.
- The priest stepped forward to bless Tom's body and commend it to God.
- Behavior is to be commended only if it is more than merely commendable.
- But there's still plenty to commend the book.
- Despite my reservations about some aspects of the book, I do believe that it has much to commend it.
- He said he commended their guest for her knowledge of Neapolitan art which no doubt surpassed that of most Neapolitans.
- Hospital staff commended another canoeist who took a strap from his own craft to make a sling.
- I commend the Bill to the House.
- I commend the politicians of Northern Ireland for doing that.
- The judge commended not only his elegant and thorough analysis but also his lucid exposition of the work.
THESAURUS
to say that you admire and approve of someone or something, especially publicly: · The film was praised by the critics when it first came out.· The report praises staff in both schools.· It’s important to praise children.
to tell someone that you think it is good that they have achieved something: · I congratulated him on his success.· The government should be congratulated for what they have achieved.
to say to someone that you like how they look, or you like something they have done: · She complimented me on my new hairstyle.· He complimented my cooking.
to praise someone in order to please them or get something from them, even though you do not mean it: · He had persuaded her to buy it by flattering her and being charming.· You’re just flattering me!
(also enthuse about something formal) to talk about something you enjoy or admire in an excited way, and say that it is very good. Rave is rather informal, whereas enthuse is much more formal and is used mainly in written English: · Everyone is raving about the movie.· She enthused about the joys of motherhood.
formal to publicly praise a decision, action, idea etc: · Business leaders applauded the decision.· A spokesperson applauded the way the festival had been run.
formal to praise someone or something, especially officially: · After the battle, Andrew Jackson commended him for ‘his courage and fidelity’.· The officers should be commended for their prompt action.
especially written to describe someone or something in a way that shows you have a very good opinion of them, especially in newspapers, on television reports etc: · The book was hailed as a masterpiece.· Journalists and music writers hailed the band as ‘the next big thing’.· He is being hailed as the new James Dean.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The paper was highly commended in the UK Press Awards. McKellen’s performance had much to commend it (=was very good).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
The paper was highly commended in the UK Press Awards. McKellen’s performance had much to commend it (=was very good).· It has been highly commended by Citalia guests for its hospitality and good, varied cuisine.· The restoration was singled out for praise in 1986 when it was highly commended by the Association of Railway Preservation Societies.
NOUN· Margaret was commended for her work in the community and her invitation was in recognition of this.· I commend the work of my hon. Friend the Minister in that respect.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1to praise or approve of someone or something publiclycommend somebody for something- This view did not commend itself to the pope.
Inspector Marshall was commended for his professional attitude. The paper was highly commended in the UK Press Awards.► see thesaurus at praise2to tell someone that something is good or that it deserves attention SYN recommend: Colleagues, I commend this report to you. McKellen’s performance had much to commend it (=was very good).3commend itself (to somebody) formal if something commends itself to you, you approve of it: The plan did not commend itself to the Allies.