endow

American  

[en-dou] / ɛnˈdaʊ /

verb (used with object)

1. to provide with a permanent fund or source of income.

   to endow a college.

2. to furnish, as with some talent, faculty, or quality; equip.

   Nature has endowed her with great ability.

   Synonyms:

   endue, clothe, invest

3. Obsolete. to provide with a dower.

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verb (used without object)

1. (of a life-insurance policy) to become payable; yield its conditions.

endow British  

/ ɪnˈdaʊ /

verb

1. to provide with or bequeath a source of permanent income

2. (usually foll by with) to provide (with qualities, characteristics, etc)

3. obsolete to provide with a dower

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Other Word Forms

• endower noun
• reendow verb (used with object)
• superendow verb (used with object)
• unendowing adjective

Etymology

Origin of endow

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English endowen, from Old French endouer, equivalent to en- en- ¹ + douer, from Latin dōtāre “to dower,” equivalent to dōt- (stem of dōs ) “dowry” + -āre infinitive suffix

Example Sentences

Askell’s aim is to endow Claude with a sense of morality—a digital soul that guides the millions of conversations it has with people every week.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

For breeders to make use of that diversity, however, they need to know which landraces could endow wheat with potentially desirable traits.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 16, 2024

Many people know fish sauce from Asian cuisines, where it is used to endow dishes with umami.

From Science Daily • Apr. 29, 2024

The funds will endow directors’ chairs for the African American, Chicano and American Indian studies centers.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2024

The main challenge lay in finding an entity to endow.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• bestow
• donate
• empower
• enable
• enhance
• enrich
• subsidize