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bestow Definition

be·stow (bē stō′, bi-)

transitive verb

  1. to give or present as a gift: often with on or upon
  2. to apply; devote to bestow much time on a project
  3. Archaic to put or place, as in storage
  4. Archaic to provide lodgings for; house
  5. Obsolete to give in marriage

Etymology: ME bistowen: see be- & stow

bestow Related Forms
be·stow′al noun
bestow Synonyms

bestow

v.

give, bequeath, present, offer; see give 1. See syn. study at give.

bestow Usage Examples

Object

  • honors: The fashion industry has bestowed numerous honors on Hilfiger.
  • blessing: She may find comfort in taking an inventory of her years, counting all the blessings bestowed upon her.
  • honor: Stanhope Medal The highest honor bestowed by the Royal Humane Society is the Stanhope Medal.
  • accolade: And the win follows her success at Venice and LA, whose critics also bestowed best actress accolades upon her.
  • nickname: By bestowing two successive nicknames - first ' Tarzan ' and then ' Hezza ' - the public displayed its instinctive rapport with him.

Preposition: on

  • man: And as we move through the earthly ministry of Christ we see this idea of divine authority bestowed on men developed.
  • person: He was granted the Freedom of the Burgh of Duns in 1965, the highest honor the town can bestow on a person.

Subject

  • government: Immigration must not be portrayed as a favor bestowed by governments.

Modifying Another Word

  • liberally: The peasants shut all their poultry up in their barns, and very liberally bestowed all their curses upon us.
  • generously: My family and I have suffered the same fate, living with conditions generously bestowed by our chemical sovereign.
  • thus: Thirdly, the righteousness of Christ is embodied in the risen, living Lord and thus bestowed upon believers ( cf.
  • ever: My dear wife has the most beautiful eyes god ever bestowed on a person, they sparkle and shine.
  • never: God will never bestow His priceless gift that the wicked might be tormented endlessly in that fire.
  • only: Chartered status is only bestowed on those at the peak of the financial advice profession.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • upon: It was a source of immense power, reputedly capable of bestowing upon its holder absolute global power.

Preposition: with

  • power: Defeated by Hercules some time ago, the Ice Titan was bestowed with new powers by Hades.

Preposition: by

  • government: Immigration must not be portrayed as a favor bestowed by governments.

Preposition: upon

  • man: O love beyond measure, singularly bestowed upon man!
  • member: The Board may not bestow upon any honorary member the right to vote on any matter.