to give something as an honor or present, to apply or devote time, skill, or effort to something

bestow a favor on, bestow oneself on, bestow the crown on

bestow on, bestow upon, bestow one's affections on

Formal and Informal Expressions of bestow

In different contexts, you can replace 'bestow' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'confer, grant' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'give, hand out' is a commonplace synonym.

bestow: Explore its Definition & Usage

bestow Definition

1to give something as an honor or present
2to apply or devote time, skill, or effort to something

Using bestow: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "bestow" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The university will bestow an honorary degree on the author.
Example
She bestowed her full attention on the lecture.
Example
He bestowed a great deal of time and effort on the project.
Example
The king bestowed many gifts on his loyal subjects.

bestow Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for bestow

Antonyms for bestow

Idioms Using bestow

bestow a favor on
to do something kind or helpful for someone
Example
He bestowed a great favor on me by lending me the money I needed.
bestow oneself on
to give oneself completely to someone or something
Example
She had bestowed herself on her work, neglecting her family and friends.
bestow the crown on
to give the title of monarch to someone
Example
The Archbishop of Canterbury bestowed the crown on the new king.

Phrases with bestow

bestow on
to give something as a gift or honor to someone
Example
The company bestowed a special award on its top salesperson.
bestow upon
to give something as a gift or honor to someone
Example
The queen bestowed a knighthood upon the actor for his services to drama.
bestow one's affections on
to give one's love or attention to someone
Example
She had bestowed her affections on him, but he did not return them.

Origins of bestow

from Old English 'be-' meaning 'thoroughly' + 'stōwian' meaning 'to place'

📌

Summary: bestow in Brief

'Bestow' [bɪˈstəʊ] means to give something as an honor or present, or to apply time, skill, or effort to something. It is often used in formal contexts, such as 'The university will bestow an honorary degree on the author.' 'Bestow' can also be used in phrases like 'bestow on,' 'bestow upon,' and 'bestow one's affections on,' as well as idioms like 'bestow a favor on' and 'bestow oneself on.'