What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
bestow
Example
The queen will bestow a knighthood upon him for his services to the community. [bestow: verb]
Example
The professor bestowed wisdom upon his students through his insightful lectures. [bestowed: past tense]
give
Example
She gave me a beautiful necklace for my birthday. [give: verb]
Example
They give generously to charity every year. [give: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Give is much more commonly used than bestow in everyday language. Give is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while bestow is less common and tends to be used in more formal or specialized situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between bestow and give?
While bestow is associated with a more formal and elevated tone, give is a versatile word that can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
