Definition of CONFERS

Other words from confer

conferment \kən-ˈfər-mənt

\ noun

conferrable \kən-ˈfər-ə-bəl

\ adjective

conferral \kən-ˈfər-əl

\ noun

conferrer \kən-ˈfər-ər

\ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for confer

give, present, donate, bestow, confer, afford mean to convey to another as a possession. give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means. give alms gave her a ride on a pony give my love to your mother present carries a note of formality and ceremony. present an award donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity). donate a piano to the orphanage bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver. bestow unwanted advice confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor). confer an honorary degree afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver. the trees afford shade a development that affords us some hope

confer vs. consult

Confer and consult are very closely related in meaning, and each has senses that are synonymous with the other’s. But as is so often the case with near-synonyms, there are contexts in which one word is preferable to the other.

If you confer with someone, it is entirely possible that you will be seeking advice, but you could also simply be having a discussion (“they conferred privately before making a decision”). If you are consulting someone or something, it is more likely that you are seeking advice (“he consulted his doctor before deciding on a course of treatment”). Consult is unambiguously the correct choice when one is seeking guidance or information from a non-human source; you would consult (not confer with) a dictionary for information on a word.

The sense of confer that is concerned with giving something (as in, “education confers many benefits”) is not shared by consult.

Examples of confer in a Sentence

The cameleers … conferred with each other about the safest path across. —Greg Child, Mixed Emotions: Mountaineering Writings of Greg Child, 1993 He liked the ease and glitter of the life, and the lustre conferred on him by being a member of this group of rich and conspicuous people. —Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth, 1905 It was a traditional compliment to be whinged at by an Englishman. It was his way of saying he trusted you, he was conferring upon you the privilege of getting to know the real him. —Margaret Atwood, New Yorker, 5 Mar.1990 The lawyer and judge conferred about the ruling. the British monarch continues to confer knighthood on those who are outstanding in their fields of endeavor

Recent Examples on the Web

Putin has received the Iranian leader’s top adviser hours after conferring with the Israeli prime minister about Iran’s presence in Syria. — Washington Post, "Iran has no intention to leave Syria, top official says," 13 July 2018 But the taxing benefits conferred to other Pennsylvania communities in 1947 have not had the same heft as those reaped by Philadelphia under the Sterling Act. — Laura Mccrystal, Philly.com, "The soda tax and the Great Depression: The 1932 law that forever changed Philly's taxes," 25 May 2018 Such critics will understandably protest that market principles would sully institutions, such as property rights and elections, that confer dignity on individuals. — The Economist, "Don’t shrink the role of markets—expand it," 10 May 2018 Traditionally, the national-security adviser’s physical proximity to the President confers a special power that the Cabinet secretaries do not enjoy. — Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, "McMaster and Commander," 23 Apr. 2018 The umpires then conferred and, without going to replay, ruled Benintendi was out for going wide of the baseline. — Gideon Rubin, courant.com, "Oakland Lefty Sean Manaea No-Hits Red Sox, But The Feat's Aided By Controversial Call," 22 Apr. 2018 After the umpires conferred, Benintendi was ruled out for going wide of the baseline. — CBS News, "Oakland A's Sean Manaea pitches no-hitter against Red Sox," 22 Apr. 2018 Critics scoff at this as being misleading at best, as generally peerage titles are conferred by heredity or by the monarchy. — Robert Mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, "Want to be a Scottish lord or lady? Opportunity beckons at suburban festival, where 'titles' will be sold," 16 June 2018 The dukedom was conferred upon Harry by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. — Joy Resmovits, latimes.com, "'Everyone is wishing them well'," 19 May 2018

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