bestow

American  

[bih-stoh] / bɪˈstoʊ /

verb (used with object)

• bestows,
  present (3rd person singular)
• bestowed,
  past participle,  past
• bestowing
  present participle

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Participles

• bestowing
  present
• bestowed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• bestow
  simple
• bestows
  simple
• have bestowed
  perfect
• has bestowed
  perfect
• am bestowing
  progressive
• are bestowing
  progressive
• is bestowing
  progressive
• have been bestowing
  perfect progressive
• has been bestowing
  perfect progressive

Past

• bestowed
  simple
• had bestowed
  perfect
• was bestowing
  progressive
• were bestowing
  progressive
• had been bestowing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will bestow
  simple
• will have bestowed
  perfect
• will be bestowing
  progressive
• will have been bestowing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of bestow

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

Explanation

When you present an honor or a gift to someone, you bestow it, which is the same as giving it, but often classier and more respectful. Bestow comes from the Middle English stowen, "to place." Placing something really valuable or honoring in the hands of another, or conferring a position of responsibility on them, is to bestow it. For example, "She gave her teacher a ceramic apple she had made, knowing that her whole class would bestow the big honor of Teacher of the Year later that day," or, "The king praised her for working with the poor, and he would later bestow the medal of honor on her in a ceremony."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bestow bestows bestowed bestowing

“We were providing them with data they thought was valuable that they want to replicate on their own using the best practices we could bestow on them,” Abramson said.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026

We are also a species insufficiently grateful, it seems, for the favors flowers bestow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

In response to outcry over the plan to include Suharto, Prabowo's office had insisted he has the right to bestow the title upon whomever he chooses.

From Barron's ● Nov. 10, 2025

The president also told reporters that he’d always wanted to be honored by the Kennedy Center, joking that he muscled his way into the institution to bestow the award on himself.

From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2025

I could feel the logic in them, could sense their power to bestow order and symmetry, but I couldn’t unlock it.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

He bestows on his characters arias, and Daniel’s cast delivers them as though the words were expressly made for these particular actors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Supporters think the passage bestows citizenship on virtually any person born in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026

In order to truly feel the benefit and gift that this money bestows, you clearly need to make sure it makes a difference elsewhere, too.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 20, 2026

“No,” he added, “it is the office of the president that bestows those far-reaching protections to the office holder.”

From Slate ● Jan. 10, 2025

During his first month at Hanawon, he received documents and photo identification that certified his South Korea citizenship, which the government automatically bestows on all those who flee the North.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden

The month before, Putin had bestowed him with a state honor, the Order of Friendship.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

Exhibit A: Wolf Blitzer, whose white beard has bestowed the gift of perpetual old age on him.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Swiatek was bestowed the title of 'Queen of Clay' on her way to the rare feat of winning three consecutive Roland Garros titles between 2022 and 2024.

From BBC ● May 31, 2026

Britain’s Prince Harry bestowed its name on the athletic games he created for wounded soldiers.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026

It wasn’t surprising when a departed family member bestowed her blessing on a descendant.

From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer

The isolated image of Judas bestowing a traitor’s kiss on Jesus is especially arresting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

The biggest engines are often installed in pairs or quads, bestowing “Miami Vice”-style speed on large vessels packed with creature comforts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

In a speech during last year’s show, Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z, chastised the Recording Academy for bestowing his wife with dozens of genre awards while withholding album of the year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 2, 2025

The bald eagle is now officially the national bird of the US, after President Joe Biden signed a law on Christmas Eve bestowing the honour upon the white-headed and yellow-beaked bird of prey.

From BBC ● Dec. 25, 2024

He pressed his lips to the pearl handles of his prized revolvers, bestowing each with a mournful kiss.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Related Words

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