bestow
be·stow/bɪˈstoʊ/verb
bestow is spelled B-E-S-T-O-W: 6 letters and 2 syllables (be·stow). It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 29,649th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, bestow means “To apply or make use of (someone or something); to employ, to use” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in bestow?
| Letters | 6: B-E-S-T-O-W |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: be·stow |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 29,649th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is bestow?
Bestow appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 29,649th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce bestow?
- UK /bɪˈstəʊ/
- US /bɪˈstoʊ/
- /bɪˈsto/
Bestow has 2 syllables, split be·stow in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-bestow.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with bestow?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as bestow from its last stressed vowel (/oʊ/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of bestow
- bestows present, singular, he/she/it
- bestowing participle, present
- bestowed participle, past, singular, he/she/it, plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does bestow mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To apply or make use of (someone or something); to employ, to use.
- 2
obsoleteTo apply (money) for some purpose; to expend, to spend.
- 3
To impart (something) gratuitously; to present (something) to someone or something, especially as a gift or an honour; to confer, to give, to accord; to render.
I bestow upon you the name of Peter.
- 4
archaicTo place or put (someone or something) somewhere or in a certain situation; to dispose of.
- 5
archaicTo deposit (something) for safekeeping; to lay up (something) in store; to stow.
- 6
archaicTo provide (someone or oneself) with accommodation; to find quarters for (someone or oneself); to lodge, to quarter.
- 7
obsoleteTo behave or conduct (oneself); to acquit.
- 8
obsoleteTo give (someone or oneself) in marriage.
noun
- 1
obsoleterareAn act of presenting a thing to someone or something, especially as a gift or an honour; a bestowal.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Bestow in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | consacrer , accorder, conférer, décerner, remettre , disposer de |
| German | verwenden , beehren mit, beschenken mit, schenken, verehren mit, verleihen |
| Portuguese | usar , conceder, conferir , dispor de , armazenar , alojar |
| Spanish | estibar |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.