Bestow upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Bestow upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the act of giving or granting something, often in a formal or ceremonial context. Example: "The committee decided to bestow upon her the honor of being the keynote speaker at the conference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Bestow upon your dog the honor of being named after your favorite food: Brownie, Sugar, Cream Puff.

WikiHow

There are enhancements to bestow upon your character.

The New York Times - Tech

What acts of kindness — monetary or otherwise — might you bestow upon others?

The New York Times

The intent, in other words, is to bestow upon the game a carefree and democratic ethos.

The New Yorker

The honors the world wished to bestow upon him made him chary.

The New Yorker

You have to dignify the audience, bestow upon them respect for their inteligence," he added.

The New York Times

Instead, why not recommend that the Iraqis use the democracy we helped bestow upon them?

The New York Times

"You have to dignify the audience, bestow upon them respect for their intelligence," Mr. Gurney said.

The New York Times

"Being awarded additional business is the highest compliment a client can bestow upon its agency".

The New York Times

Now that Christopher Plummer has received his long-overdue Oscar, I have one more small accolade to bestow upon him.

The New York Times

"It is not actually that by giving somebody the name Nigel you bestow upon them certain views.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bestow upon" when you want to emphasize the act of formally or ceremoniously giving something of value, whether tangible or intangible, to someone.

Common error

Avoid using "bestow upon" in everyday, casual conversations. It can sound overly formal or pretentious. Opt for simpler alternatives like "give" or "offer" in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bestow upon" functions as a transitive verb phrase followed by a preposition. It describes the act of formally giving or conferring something, often an honor, right, or gift. Ludwig AI provides several examples where "bestow upon" is used to describe bestowing honors or gifts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

14%

Science

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bestow upon" is a formal expression used to describe the act of giving or conferring something, often an honor or a gift, in a ceremonial manner. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and high frequency, primarily in news and media contexts. While it's appropriate for formal writing and speech, it should be avoided in casual conversations to prevent sounding pretentious. Alternatives like "grant to" or "confer on" can be used depending on the specific context. Remember to use this phrase when you want to emphasize the significance of the act of giving and the value of what is being given.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Bestow on

A slightly less formal variant using the preposition "on" instead of "upon".

Confer on

More formal and emphasizes the act of granting a title, right, or quality.

Grant to

A direct and common alternative implying permission or authorization.

Award to

Suggests a formal recognition or prize being given.

Give to

A simple and widely understood alternative, lacking the formality of "bestow".

Present to

Emphasizes the act of formally handing over something.

Impart to

Suggests conveying knowledge, wisdom, or a quality.

Afford to

Implies providing someone with an opportunity or advantage.

Entrust with

Focuses on assigning a responsibility or valuable item.

Lavish upon

Highlights the act of generously giving someone abundant amounts of something.

FAQs

What does "bestow upon" mean?

"Bestow upon" means to give or confer something, often an honor or gift, in a formal or ceremonial way.

When is it appropriate to use "bestow upon"?

It's appropriate to use "bestow upon" in formal writing or speech when you want to emphasize the significance of the act of giving and the value of what is being given.

What can I say instead of "bestow upon"?

You can use alternatives like "grant to", "confer on", or "award to" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "bestow on" and "bestow upon"?

While both are correct, "bestow upon" is generally considered more formal and emphatic than "bestow on". The difference is subtle, and they are often interchangeable.