To imply but stop short of explicitly stating (something).
"Her hesitation to answer the question seemed to suggest she had changed her mind without saying a word."
In plain English: To suggest means to offer an idea or possibility for someone to consider without forcing them to accept it.
"The teacher suggested that we read more books to improve our vocabulary."
Usage: Use suggest to mean offering an idea or proposal, rather than implying something indirectly as your definition describes. Do not use it in negative sentences where you might expect a word like hint; instead, pair it with that the clause structure when introducing what is being proposed.
The word "suggest" comes from the Latin suggero, which literally meant to bring something up or bear it from beneath. It entered English with the specific sense of advising or proposing an idea rather than just physically lifting an object.