BESTOW

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does bestow mean? 

• BESTOW (verb)
  The verb BESTOW has 3 senses:

1. present

2. give as a gift

3. bestow a quality on

  Familiarity information: BESTOW used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BESTOW (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they bestow    ... he / she / it bestows   
Past simple: bestowed   
Past participle: bestowed   
-ing form: bestowing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Present

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

bestow; confer

Context example:

bestow an honor on someone

Hypernyms (to "bestow" is one way to...):

award; present (give, especially as an honor or reward)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "bestow"):

miter (confer a miter on (a bishop))

bless (confer prosperity or happiness on)

graduate (confer an academic degree upon)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something on somebody

Derivation:

bestowal; bestowment (the act of conferring an honor or presenting a gift)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Give as a gift

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "bestow" is one way to...):

give (transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something on somebody

Derivation:

bestowment (a gift that is bestowed or conferred)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Bestow a quality on

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

add; bestow; bring; contribute; impart; lend

Context example:

This adds a light note to the program

Hypernyms (to "bestow" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "bestow"):

factor (be a contributing factor)

instill; transfuse (impart gradually)

tinsel (impart a cheap brightness to)

throw in (add as an extra or as a gratuity)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

 Context examples 

On his two younger sisters he then bestowed an equal portion of his fraternal tenderness, for he asked each of them how they did, and observed that they both looked very ugly.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

All praises bestowed on her I received as made to a possession of my own.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Would he have persevered, and uprightly, Fanny must have been his reward, and a reward very voluntarily bestowed, within a reasonable period from Edmund's marrying Mary.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

But the people said “No,” unless he would bestow all his money upon the rascals and buy their liberty.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Mr. Woodhouse's peculiarities and fidgetiness were sometimes provoking him to a rational remonstrance or sharp retort equally ill-bestowed.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The four travelers passed a sleepless night, each thinking of the gift Oz had promised to bestow on him.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Humility is a Christian grace, and one peculiarly appropriate to the pupils of Lowood; I, therefore, direct that especial care shall be bestowed on its cultivation amongst them.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Do you imagine that I bestow a thought on it, or suppose you could do any harm to that low place, which money would not pay for, and handsomely?

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Don't take off your apron, whatever you do, it's peculiarly becoming, said Laurie, as Jo bestowed his especial aversion in her capacious pocket and offered her arm to support his feeble steps.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)