- present participle of confer.
conferring
Americannoun
-
the presentation of a degree, honor, gift, etc..
The ceremony included the conferring of 330 undergraduate and 46 graduate degrees.
-
the act of consulting with someone or carrying on a discussion or deliberation.
Conferring is a critical step in reflecting on our writing and ultimately improving it.
adjective
-
relating to the presentation of a degree, honor, gift, etc..
Provide the title of the diploma or degree received, the name of the conferring institution, and its city and state.
-
involved in or relating to a discussion or consultation.
He looked over at the conferring soldiers, deep in conversation and seemingly oblivious to their surroundings.
Etymology
Origin of conferring
First recorded in 1555–65; confer ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun senses; confer ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses
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.
The concept of a Christian “holy war”—a war conferring spiritual benefits—originates in medieval Latin Christianity, with its crusader theology of bellum sacrum.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Bain firmly she rejected accusations of corruption and conferring political advantage.
From BBC ● Feb. 19, 2026
"After conferring with the league office, because Lamar didn't take starter reps in practice, we updated our report to reflect his practice participation," the Ravens said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2025
After conferring with colleagues, the agent walked Minguela back toward his delivery van.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2025
During this time, the judges are conferring in another room, deciding on the winning queens.
From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau
![]()
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.