Bestow — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /bi-ˈstō/ be·stow

Meaning & Definition of Bestow

Bestow (verb)

  1. to put to use, apply
  2. to put in a particular or appropriate place, stow
  3. to provide with quarters, put up

Bestow (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make a present of

    "bestowed a new car on their son for graduation"

    similar: contribute, donate, give, give away, present, volunteer, give of
    related: chip in, kick in, pitch in, throw in, award, confer, endow, endue, render, afford, comp, furnish, provide, lavish, regale, aid, assist, benefit, help, administer, dish out, dispense, dole out, hand out, impart, issue, mete (out), extend, fork (over, out, or up), offer, pay, proffer, pungle (up), put up, tender, sacrifice
    near: hold, keep, pocket, retain, withhold, preserve, save, advance, lend, loan, sell

  2. to provide with living quarters or shelter

    "eventually the refugee family was bestowed in its own apartment"

    similar: accommodate, billet, bivouac, board, bunk, camp, chamber, domicile, encamp, harbor, house, lodge, put up, quarter, roof, room, shelter, take in
    related: ensconce, home, roost, secure, shed, stable, tent, barrack, bed (down)
    near: eject, evict

Related Entry: Bestow (on or upon) (verb)

Bestow (on or upon) is a different word from Bestow. The synonyms below are for bestow (on or upon), not for bestow.

  1. as in cover, confer (on)

    similar: clothe, confer (on), cover, equip, provide, supply, accord, award, grant, bless, endow, endue, favor, gift, invest, empower, enable, enhance, enrich, heighten, bequeath, will
    opposite: dispossess, divest, strip, deplete, drain, exhaust, skimp, stint

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bestow

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bestow:

contribute, donate, give, give away, present, volunteer, accommodate, billet, bivouac, board, bunk, camp, chamber, domicile, encamp, harbor, house, lodge, put up, quarter, roof, room, shelter, take in, give of

Related Words for Bestow

chip in, kick in, pitch in, throw in, award, confer, endow, endue, render, afford, comp, furnish, provide, lavish, regale, aid, assist, benefit, help, administer, dish out, dispense, dole out, hand out, impart, issue, mete (out), extend, fork (over, out, or up), offer

Near Antonyms of Bestow

hold, keep, pocket, retain, withhold, preserve, save, advance, lend, loan, sell, eject, evict

Word Forms of Bestow

Inflections: bestowed, bestowing, bestows

Derived words: bestowal (noun), bestower (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Bestow

Middle English, from be- + stowe place stow

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Bestow

Frequently Asked Questions about Bestow

What does "Bestow" mean?

"Bestow" means to put to use, apply. As a verb, it is defined as: to put to use, apply. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bestow"?

Other words for "Bestow" include contribute, donate, give, give away, present, volunteer, accommodate and billet. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bestow" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bestow"?

There are 69 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bestow". Common alternatives include contribute, donate, give, give away, present, volunteer, accommodate, billet, bivouac and board.

How do you use "Bestow" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bestow" in a sentence: "bestowed a new car on their son for graduation"; "eventually the refugee family was bestowed in its own apartment".

Is "Bestow" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bestow" is a verb.

Is "Bestow" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Bestow" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Bestow"?

"Bestow" is pronounced /bi-ˈstō/ and divided into syllables as be·stow.

What is the origin of the word "Bestow"?

"Bestow" comes from Middle English, from be- + stowe place stow. First known use: 14th century.