bequeath

verb be·queath \ bi-ˈkwēth , -ˈkwēt͟h , bē- \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Examples: bequeath in a Sentence

Definition of bequeath

bequeathed; bequeathing; bequeaths

transitive verb

1 : to give or leave by will (see ²will 1) —used especially of personal property

a ring bequeathed to her by her grandmother

2 : to hand down : transmit

lessons bequeathed to future generations

—

bequeathal

play \-ˈkwē-thəl, -t͟həl\ noun

See bequeath defined for English-language learners

See bequeath defined for kids

Examples of bequeath in a Sentence

He bequeathed his paintings to the museum.
Lessons of the past are bequeathed to future generations.

Recent Examples of bequeath from the Web

But Kim Jong Un was 27 when he was bequeathed the country.

— anna fifield, BostonGlobe.com, "For Kim Jong Un, meeting Trump is about cementing power at home," 10 June 2018
But Kim Jong Un was 27 when he was bequeathed the country.

— anna fifield, Washington Post, "For Kim Jong Un, meeting Trump is about cementing power at home," 9 June 2018
Selling losing stocks is certainly better than bequeathing them to your heirs.

— liz weston, latimes.com, "When buying a car, be strategic with your money. Here's how," 27 May 2018
Wadsworth Falls State Park, Middletown Earlier in the century, Wadsworth bequeathed 267 acres of streams, waterfalls and hemlock forests to the state, creating the Wadsworth Falls State Park.

— peter marteka, courant.com, "Five Spots To Take Your Dog Hiking," 18 May 2018
In order to pay for these films, Jean started selling some of the many paintings his father bequeathed to him, a pattern that continued for the rest of his life until all but the huntsman portrait were gone.

— thomas hine, Philly.com, "At Barnes, two Renoirs - father and son - share one show, diminishing the impact of both," 3 May 2018
For those with estates larger than $100 million, a majority responded that bequeathing $63 million to one child would be too much and that $23 million was too little.

— norman vanamee, Town & Country, "Here's Exactly How Much Money You Need To Be Happy," 16 Nov. 2017
There's a reason influencers are bequeathed the name.

— refinery29.com, "The Top Summer Essentials According To Instagram," 25 May 2018
The bandeau and the brooch were bequeathed by Queen Mary to The Queen in 1953.

— raisa bruner, Time, "Meghan Markle’s Wedding Tiara Is the Sparkly Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau," 19 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bequeath.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of bequeath

Middle English bequethen, from Old English becwethan, from be- + cwethan to say — more at quoth

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

bequeath Synonyms

Synonyms

leave, will;

Related Words

deed;

hand down, hand on, pass (down);

devise;

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

BEQUEATH Defined for English Language Learners

bequeath

verb

Definition of bequeath for English Language Learners

: to say in a will that (your property) will be given to (a person or organization) after you die
: to give (ideas, knowledge, etc.) to (younger people) as part of their history