confer

[kuh n-fur]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR confer ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), con·ferred, con·fer·ring.

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

verb (used with object), con·ferred, con·fer·ring.

to bestow upon as a gift, favor, honor, etc.: to confer a degree on a graduate.

Obsolete. to compare.

Origin of confer

1400–50 for earlier sense “to summon”; 1520–30 for current senses; late Middle English conferen < Latin conferre to bring together, compare, consult with, equivalent to con- con- + ferre to carry, bear¹

Related formscon·fer·ment, nouncon·fer·ra·ble, adjectivecon·fer·rer, nounnon·con·fer·ra·ble, adjectivepre·con·fer, verb (used without object), pre·con·ferred, pre·con·fer·ring.re·con·fer, verb, re·con·ferred, re·con·fer·ring.un·con·ferred, adjectivewell-con·ferred, adjective

Synonym study

1. See consult. 2. See give.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for confer

Colleges churn out graduates and confer advanced degrees, but the scramble for jobs continues.
How Young People Are Destroying Liberty|James Poulos|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now Hunter wanted to confer an honorary doctorate on me, and I needed to find the words to properly convey how honored I felt.
A College Degree Worth the Wait|Eleanor Clift|June 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A commercial transaction does not confer ethical approbation on a customer.
How ‘Religious Freedom’ Is Hurting Everyone’s Freedom|Robert Shrum|March 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He then tells Bilal to confer with his brother Burak, his sister Sumeyye and other relatives.
Does Alleged Corruption Video Spell the End Of Turkey’s Erdogan?|Thomas Seibert|February 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I confer with editors at ESPN.com every week about the next week.
Opening Day 2013: How to Write About Baseball in the Big Leagues|Noah Charney|March 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Then the chief stepped back "to confer with the old women—the real arbiters of savage war."
Following the Equator, Complete|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
For to give the child its ignorance is to confer a great boon; to make it capable of something in life.
Discourses of Keidansky|Bernard G. Richards
I can not say how full of acknowledgements every one amongst us is for ye favr you confer'd upon one of their society.
Lord Chatham|Archibald Phillip Primrose Rosebery
That all come only for the material benefits you confer, I do not believe.
An American Four-In-Hand in Britain|Andrew Carnegie
I took occasion at a reception at the royal palace to confer suitable honors and rewards on my victorious generals.
The Goddess of Atvatabar|William R. Bradshaw

British Dictionary definitions for confer

confer

verb -fers, -ferring or -ferred

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

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

(tr) an obsolete word for compare

Derived Formsconferment or conferral, nounconferrable, adjectiveconferrer, noun

Word Origin for confer

C16: from Latin conferre to gather together, compare, from com- together + ferre to bring

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

Word Origin and History for confer

1530s, from Middle French conférer (14c.) "to give, converse, compare," from Latin conferre "to bring together," figuratively "to compare; consult, deliberate, talk over," from com- "together" (see com-) + ferre "to bear" (see infer). Sense of "taking counsel" led to conference. The meaning "compare" (common 1530-1650) is largely obsolete, but the abbreviation cf. still is used in this sense. Related: Conferred; conferring.