# bestow

> English word · Verb · IPA /bɪˈstəʊ/ · frequency rank #29,557

## Definitions
1. To apply or make use of (someone or something); to employ, to use.
2. To apply or make use of (someone or something); to employ, to use.
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.
4. To place or put (someone or something) somewhere or in a certain situation; to dispose of.
5. To deposit (something) for safekeeping; to lay up (something) in store; to stow.
6. To provide (someone or oneself) with accommodation; to find quarters for (someone or oneself); to lodge, to quarter.
7. To behave or conduct (oneself); to acquit.
8. To give (someone or oneself) in marriage.

## Etymology
PIE word
 *h₁epi
The verb is derived from Middle English bestowen, bistouen, bistowen (“to give, bestow; to apply (something to something else); to arrange or have control over (something); to place (someone) in a position; to use (for some purpose); (reflexive) to find (oneself) a place to live or shelter”) [and other forms], from bi- (prefix forming verbs, often with a completive, figurative, or intensive meaning) + stouen, stowen (“to pack (cargo) in a ship, stow; to place (someone) in a certain position; to provide quarters for, lodge; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to place; to stand (up)”)). The English word is analysable as be- (intensifying prefix forming verbs) + stow (“to put (something) away in a suitable place; etc.”).
The noun is derived from the verb.

## Easily confused with
- **Beto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bestow-vs-beto)
- **bests** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bestow-vs-bests)
- **Boston** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bestow-vs-boston)
- **Bristow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bestow-vs-bristow)
- **bestowed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bestow-vs-bestowed)
- **best** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/best-vs-bestow)
- **below** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-bestow)
- **bento** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bento-vs-bestow)
- **Benton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/benton-vs-bestow)
- **bellow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bellow-vs-bestow)
- **bested** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bested-vs-bestow)
- **Beaton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaton-vs-bestow)
- **bestie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bestie-vs-bestow)
- **Barstow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barstow-vs-bestow)

## Common misspellings (9)
`bbestow`, `besotw`, `besstow`, `bestoww`, `besttow`, `bestwo`, `betsow`, `bsetow`, `ebstow`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/bestow