Commend vs Raise a toast

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Commend

Formal Beyond 10,000 (less common) B1 verb

Raise a toast

Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Most formal: Commend Most common: Raise a toast

	Commend	Raise a toast
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //kəˈmɛnd// 🇺🇸 //kəˈmɛnd//	🇬🇧 //reɪz ə təʊst// 🇺🇸 //reɪz ə toʊst//
Meaning	To praise someone or something for a good job.	To lift glasses and make a speech to celebrate someone or something.
Example	The manager decided to commend the team for their hard work on the project.	We all stood together to raise a toast to the newlyweds.
Register	Formal	Neutral
How common	Beyond 10,000 (less common)	Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR level	B1	-
Part of speech	verb
Collocations	commend someone for something, commend highly, commend to the attention of	raise a toast to, raise a glass, make a toast, give a toast, honor with a toast
Antonyms	criticize, disparage, denounce	-
Common mistakes	Confusing 'commend' with 'recommend'. They have different meanings., Using 'commend' without an object. It needs to reference what is being praised.	Confusing 'raise a toast' with 'give a toast' which refers to the speech itself., Using 'raise a toast' when not actually lifting a glass., Saying 'toast to' instead of 'raise a toast to' which is incorrect.
Usage notes	Use 'commend' in formal contexts, such as speeches or reports. Avoid in casual conversations.	Used mainly in celebratory contexts, like weddings or parties. Avoid in strictly formal settings.

See it in real clips

Succession › S1 E1

So, let's raise a toast.

Raise a toast

Frequently asked questions: Commend vs Raise a toast

What's the difference between Commend and Raise a toast?

Commend: To praise someone or something for a good job. Raise a toast: To lift glasses and make a speech to celebrate someone or something.

Which is more formal: Commend and Raise a toast?

Commend is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Commend and Raise a toast?

Raise a toast is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Commend: The manager decided to commend the team for their hard work on the project. Raise a toast: We all stood together to raise a toast to the newlyweds.

Can I use Commend and Raise a toast interchangeably?

Not always. Commend and Raise a toast are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.