bequest
Americannoun
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bequests
plural
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a disposition in a will.
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a legacy.
A small bequest allowed her to live independently.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bequest
1250–1300; Middle English biqueste, biquyste, equivalent to bi- be- + quiste will, bequest, Old English -cwis ( se ) (with excrescent t, as in behest ), noun derivative of cwethan to say; on the model of bequethen bequeath
Explanation
When you receive some kind of gift, be it money or property, through a will, that gift is known as a bequest. Your aunt left you a bequest of the earrings she always thought you admired. The noun bequest is something one arranges to give away after death, sort of a gift from beyond the grave. Basically, putting a bequest in a will is a way of making sure the right person will get certain goods after your death. If you are very wealthy, universities and charitable organizations may court you in an attempt to gain bequests for their institutions.
Vocabulary lists containing bequest
Beowulf vocabulary
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
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Pygmalion
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Since you wouldn’t have to worry about running out of money in old age, you might travel the world, buy a sports car, or gift an early bequest to heirs.
From Barron's ● May 21, 2026
NPR’s largest gift ever was a $200 million-plus bequest from the estate of Joan B. Kroc, wife of McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc, in 2003.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026
I have one daughter who is well off, having received a generous bequest through my deceased sister’s will.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 12, 2026
British scientist James Smithson’s bequest was intended to support “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.”
From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2025
He died soon after making this bequest of his life’s work to the stunned younger man, who only weeks before had been a penniless refugee.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
Examples assume 5% annual inflation-adjusted stock-market return, 2% annual inflation-adjusted risk-free interest rate and no planned bequests.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 19, 2026
Gold bars, rings and necklaces can be handed down to the next generation as wedding gifts or inheritance bequests.
From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026
It’s also likely that the Reiners included charitable bequests in their estate plans.
From Salon ● Dec. 25, 2025
“For most sales, the basis is the amount the taxpayer invested in the asset, adjusted for subsequent improvements, depreciation, and certain other items. For gifts and bequests, however, special basis rules apply.”
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 25, 2025
But except for these bequests, everything was left to Roger.
From Notwithstanding by Cholmondeley, Mary
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
