endow

verb

en·​dow in-ˈdau̇ How to pronounce endow (audio)
en-
endowed; endowing; endows
Synonyms of endownext

transitive verb

1
: to furnish with an income
especially : to make a grant of money providing for the continuing support or maintenance of
endow a hospital
2
: to furnish with a dower
3
: to provide with something freely or naturally
endowed with a good sense of humor

Examples of endow in a Sentence

The wealthy couple endowed a new wing of the hospital. She plans to endow a faculty position at the university. The money will be used to endow the museum and research facility.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The winner will receive £30,000, anonymously endowed, along with a statuette known as the ‘Bessie’, created and donated by the late artist Grizel Niven. Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Mar. 2026 As public funding for higher education has eroded, universities have increasingly turned to wealthy donors to underwrite major projects and supplement budgets by endowing professorships and research centers. Yana Van Der Meulen Rodgers, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026 Nimer explains that following this money isn’t typically as direct as Sylvester endowing a second faculty chair this week in the DCC’s name. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026 It is endowed with some of the richest mineral supplies on earth, including some 70 percent of the world’s cobalt, as well as huge reserves of copper and a Mendeleevian constellation of other metals. Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for endow

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French endower, from en- + dower, douer to endow, from Latin dotare, from dot-, dos gift, dowry — more at date

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of endow was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Endow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endow. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

endow

verb
en·​dow in-ˈdau̇ How to pronounce endow (audio)
1
: to provide with money for support or maintenance
2
: to furnish with something freely or naturally
humans are endowed with reason

Legal Definition

endow

transitive verb
en·​dow in-ˈdau̇ How to pronounce endow (audio)
: to furnish with income
especially : to make a grant of money providing for the continuing support or maintenance of
a scholarship endowed by the testator
Etymology

Anglo-French endower, from Old French en-, prefix stressing completion + douer to endow, from Latin dotare, from dot-, dos gift, dowry

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