bestow

American  

[bih-stoh] / bɪˈstoʊ /

verb (used with object)

1. to present as a gift; give; confer (usually followed by on orupon ).

   The trophy was bestowed upon the winner.

   Synonyms:

   accord, award, vouchsafe, grant

2. Archaic. to put to some use; apply.

   He was continually working the mines, expending money and bestowing his time, toil, and skill upon them.

3. Archaic.

   1. to provide quarters for; house; lodge.

   2. to put; stow; deposit; store.

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bestow British  

/ bɪˈstəʊ /

verb

1. to present (a gift) or confer (an award or honour)

2. archaic to apply (energy, resources, etc)

3. archaic to house (a person) or store (goods)

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Other Word Forms

• bestowal noun
• bestower noun
• bestowment noun
• misbestow verb (used with object)
• prebestow verb (used with object)
• prebestowal noun

Etymology

Origin of bestow

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English bestowen; be-, stow ( def. )

Example Sentences

I whipped the crop against the dusty ground, feeling the power it bestowed.

From Literature

Each year around June when the rains came, its waters would gather in might, churning with rich silt, flooding the plains, and bestowing abundant harvests for farmers and catches for fishermen.

From Literature

Those are all monikers bestowed upon Howard Silverblatt, longtime senior index analyst at S&P Global.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Fela was more than a musician," Tinubu said in a statement day after the award was bestowed at a ceremony in Los Angeles.

From Barron's

She froze in her seat, eyes darting from side to side, before she ascended the stage to accept the award for her disruptive album, Cowboy Carter - the trophy bestowed upon her by country-darling-turned-crossover-superstar Taylor Swift.

From BBC

Related Words

• bequeath
• confer
• donate
• entrust
• grant
• hand out
• lavish