Cryptic crossword clue
Recommended article leaving drink to editor 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word ADVOCATED

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
A
D
V
O
C
A
T
E
D

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Recommended" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case recommended = advocated.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does ADVOCATED mean?

ADVOCATED verb
  1. To plead in favour of; to defend by argument, before a tribunal or the public; to support, vindicate, or recommend publicly.
  2. To encourage support for something.
  3. (with for) To engage in advocacy.
ADVOCATED adjective
  1. Having been argued in favor of.

Latest crossword clues with full explanations