bestow
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to present as a gift; give; confer (usually followed by on orupon ).
The trophy was bestowed upon the winner.
-
Archaic. to put to some use; apply.
He was continually working the mines, expending money and bestowing his time, toil, and skill upon them.
-
Archaic.
-
to provide quarters for; house; lodge.
-
to put; stow; deposit; store.
-
verb
-
to present (a gift) or confer (an award or honour)
-
archaic to apply (energy, resources, etc)
-
archaic to house (a person) or store (goods)
Other Word Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing bestow
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "B"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
And because we can learn from it, the authority we bestow on the dictionary is gratifyingly reciprocal.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025
She had traveled to the basilica from her home in Tabasco state to beg Guadalupe to bestow on her at least one child.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2025
Twenty-one percent of managers say Tesla is the market’s most richly valued stock, while 13% bestow the “honor” on Nvidia.
From Barron's • Oct. 23, 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
And to evade nostalgia for the life he has lost, he concentrates on the benefits education will bestow upon him.
From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez
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.
