furnish

1 of 2

verb

fur·​nish ˈfər-nish 

furnished; furnishing; furnishes

transitive verb

1

: to provide with what is needed

The students are furnished with the necessary materials.

especially : to equip with furniture

The inn is beautifully furnished.

2

: supply, give

furnished food and shelter for the refugees

furnisher noun

furnisher

2 of 2

noun

fur·​nish·​er

-shə(r)

plural -s

1

: one that furnishes

specifically : a dealer in men's furnishings

2

: a revolving brush or roller that supplies the color used in printing textiles

Synonyms of furnish

Verb

• equip
• supply

Choose the Right Synonym for furnish

furnish, equip, outfit, appoint, accoutre mean to supply one with what is needed.

furnish implies the provision of any or all essentials for performing a function.

a sparsely furnished apartment

equip suggests the provision of something making for efficiency in action or use.

a fully equipped kitchen

outfit implies provision of a complete list or set of articles as for a journey, an expedition, or a special occupation.

outfitted the family for a ski trip

appoint implies provision of complete and usually elegant or elaborate equipment or furnishings.

a lavishly appointed apartment

accoutre suggests the supplying of personal dress or equipment for a special activity.

fully accoutred members of a polar expedition

Examples of furnish in a Sentence

Verb

The inn is beautifully furnished.

He has enough money to furnish the apartment nicely.

We'll furnish the food for the party.

Can he furnish the information to us?

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The up-tempo, run-and-gun offense made the team Hollywood stars, helped furnish The Forum with five championship banners and pushed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the top of the all-time scoring list. —Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 17 June 2026

Barton’s pseudo-scholarship furnished Christian nationalists with valuable ammunition, but the movement needed foot soldiers. —Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026

The eleven canvas suites are furnished in classic 1920s style, with campaign furniture, antique trunks, Persian rugs, brass fittings and vintage photographs. —Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

The living room has a high ceiling and is furnished with a large sofa and a wood-burning stove. —New Atlas, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English furnisshen, from Anglo-French furniss-, stem of furnir, fournir to complete, equip, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German frummen to further, fruma advantage — more at foremost

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for furnish

• burnish

Kids Definition

furnish

verb

fur·​nish ˈfər-nish 

1

: to provide with what is needed

the cave furnished us with shelter

especially : to provide with furniture

furnish an apartment

2

: to supply or give to someone or something

we'll furnish the food for the guests

furnisher noun