Lithium　secondary　batteries　(LSBs)　with　high　energy　densities　need　to　be　further　developed　for　future　applications　in　portable　electronic　devices,　electric　vehicles,　hybrid　electric　vehicles　and　smart　grids.　Lithium　metal　is　the　most　promising　electrode　for　next-generation　rechargeable　batteries.　However,　the　formation　of　lithium　dendrite　on　the　anode　surface　leads　to　serious　safety　concerns　and　low　coulombic　efficiency.　Recently,　researchers　have　made　great　efforts　and　significant　progresses　to　solve　these　problems.　Here　we　review　the　growth　mechanism　and　suppression　method　of　lithium　dendrite　for　LSBs＇　anode　protection.　We　also　establish　the　relationship　between　the　growth　mechanism　and　suppression　method.　The　research　direction　for　building　better　LSBs　is　given　by　comparing　the　advantages　and　disadvantages　of　these　methods　based　on　the　growth　mechanism.　(C)　2017　Science　Press　and　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　and　Science　Press.　All　rights　reserved.