confer

American  

[kuhn-fur] / kənˈfɜr /

verb (used without object)

conferred, conferring

1. to consult together; compare opinions; carry on a discussion or deliberation.

---

verb (used with object)

conferred, conferring

1. to bestow upon as a gift, favor, honor, etc..

   to confer a degree on a graduate.

2. Obsolete. to compare.

confer British  

/ kənˈfɜː /

verb

1. (tr; foll by on or upon) to grant or bestow (an honour, gift, etc)

2. (intr) to hold or take part in a conference or consult together

3. (tr) an obsolete word for compare

---

Related Words

See consult. See give.

Other Word Forms

• conferment noun
• conferrable adjective
• conferrer noun
• nonconferrable adjective
• preconfer verb (used without object)
• reconfer verb

Etymology

Origin of confer

First recorded in 1400–50 for earlier sense “to summon”; 1520–30 for current senses; late Middle English conferen, from Latin conferre “to bring together, compare, consult with,” equivalent to con- “with, together, completely” ( con- ) + ferre “to carry, bear” ( bear ¹ )

Example Sentences

Jackson briefly conferred with Reiner in court then went into chambers for around 10 minutes before returning to withdraw from the case.

From The Wall Street Journal

Foreign citizens can be conferred knighthoods or damehoods but are not dubbed and cannot use the title Sir or Dame.

From BBC

During my own internship at the Star just out of college, I found that my KCK upbringing conferred upon me a kind of savage respect.

From The Wall Street Journal

To have no needs or desires, in the Cynic view, conferred a power greater than that of a king.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The labor market advantages conferred by a college degree have historically justified individual investment in higher education and expanding support for college access,” the Cleveland Fed study concludes.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• advise
• argue
• brainstorm
• consult
• huddle
• negotiate
• speak