bestow

[ bih-stoh ]

/ bɪˈstoʊ /

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See synonyms for: bestow / bestowed / bestowal / bestowment on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to present as a gift; give; confer (usually followed by on or upon): 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR bestow

1 grant, vouchsafe, award, accord.

See synonyms for bestow on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of bestow

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English bestowen; see be-, stow

OTHER WORDS FROM bestow

be·stow·al, be·stow·ment, nounmis·be·stow, verb (used with object)pre·be·stow, verb (used with object)pre·be·stow·al, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bestow in a sentence

Months after being named a Kennedy Center honoree, President Barack Obama bestowed upon Tyson his last Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In ‘Just as I Am,’ actress Cicely Tyson reflects on 96 years of a life well lived|Tre'vell Anderson|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
And, for what it’s worth, the best ranking bestowed upon Rivers in the yearly NFL Top 100 rankings was 17th in 2019 behind four other passers, Brees, Patrick Mahomes, Brady and Rodgers.
Sorry, but Philip Rivers is not a Hall of Fame quarterback|Neil Greenberg|January 22, 2021|Washington Post
We are not talking necessarily about some grand cosmic meaning, or a divine meaning bestowed by God, or even a lasting, eternal meaning.
Is Life Special Just Because It’s Rare? - Issue 95: Escape|Alan Lightman|January 20, 2021|Nautilus
For the first time, a vegan restaurant gets a Michelin star in FranceThis week, the dining guide arm of tire company Michelin returned to its home country, bestowing stars on 638 restaurants in France, including 57 new starred restaurants.
Michelin Announces 2021 Stars for France|Monica Burton|January 20, 2021|Eater

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you’ve bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.
Obama had a secret note in his pocket during his inauguration in case of an attack|Michael Rosenwald|January 20, 2021|Washington Post
But that bestowal of trust is just one way in which Jim has prepared the NewsHour for a future in the digital age.
Jim Lehrer's Stealthy Exit|Robert MacNeil|May 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
"The request for a glass of water was evidently only an excuse for the bestowal of an extraordinarily large gratuity," said David.
The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence|Eugne Sue
Some talked in a low voice; others watched the king, awaiting the bestowal of a look or a word.
Catherine de' Medici|Honore de Balzac
"And my partial little daughter had the bestowal of such preferment and titles," he added laughingly.
Elsie's Vacation and After Events|Martha Finley
I see no wisdom in his bestowal of his property upon a slave; no affection in this slight upon his only son.
Hebraic Literature; Translations from the Talmud, Midrashim and Kabbala|Various
When he returned he was followed by a waiter with a hamper to whose bestowal in the back of the car he looked carefully.
Red Pepper Burns|Grace S. Richmond

British Dictionary definitions for bestow

bestow

/ (bɪˈstəʊ) /

verb (tr)

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

archaic to apply (energy, resources, etc)

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

Derived forms of bestow

bestowal or bestowment, nounbestower, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

bestow

OTHER WORDS FOR bestow

Origin of bestow

OTHER WORDS FROM bestow

Words related to bestow

How to use bestow in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bestow

Derived forms of bestow