furnish

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verb fur·nish \ ˈfər-nish \

Definition of furnish

transitive verb

1 :to provide with what is needed; especially :to equip with furniture

The inn is beautifully furnished.

2 :supply, give

furnished food and shelter for the refugees

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furnisher

noun

See furnish defined for English-language learners

See furnish defined for kids

Examples of furnish in a Sentence

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 of furnish from the Web

In addition to the coffee amenities, twin clear bubble base lamps, and a gold curtain furnished window add extra light (and glamour) to their dorm.

— katelyn chef, Teen Vogue, "Dorm Decor at University of Kentucky," 30 Aug. 2017
Crocodilians—the group that includes crocs and alligators—have furnished some of the most dramatic examples.

— mitch leslie, Science | AAAS, "Something is changing the sex of Costa Rican crocodiles," 30 Aug. 2017
A former deputy with the Porter County Sheriff's Department charged with possessing child pornography and furnishing alcohol to a minor formally entered a not guilty plea to the charges Monday.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Former deputy enters not guilty plea to child porn charges," 28 Aug. 2017
Sure, some speculative works included them — think of the map of Utopia that furnishes the frontispiece for Thomas More’s fictional travelogue.

— adrian daub, Longreads, "Here at the End of All Things," 24 Aug. 2017
There are 200 fully furnished apartments on Wall Street, from studios (about $3,000 a month) to three-bedrooms outfitted with housewares and towels.

— penelope green, New York Times, "In the ’90s, We Had ‘Friends.’ Now They Call It Co-Living.," 23 Aug. 2017
The sushi restaurant sits in a strip mall among mostly home design and furnishing stores.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Bluemercury to move into old Starbucks, luxury salon planned for Water Street," 3 Aug. 2017
This more modest getaway offers simple, Mediterranean-style rooms nicely furnished in a warm cottage style.

— hallie levine sklar, Town & Country, "The Complete Guide to Sea Island, Georgia," 28 July 2017
According to the Journal, the most expensive listing in Trump Tower in the last year has been a 3,725-square-foot, three-bedroom apartment on the 62nd floor, asking $50,000 a month, or $60,000 a month furnished.

— bess levin, vanityfair.com, "U.S. Military Spending a Cool $130,000 a Month to Stay in Trump Tower," 19 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of furnish

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

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furnish Synonyms

Synonyms

accoutre (or accouter), equip, fit (out), gird, kit (up or out) [chiefly British], outfit, provision, rig, supply

Antonyms

hold (back), keep (back), reserve, retain, withhold

Related Words

stock, store; bestow, contribute, donate, give, present; apportion, deal (out), dispense, distribute, dole out, hand out, mete (out), parcel (out), portion, prorate; allocate, allot, assign; arm, fortify, prepare; reequip, refit, refurnish, reoutfit

Near Antonyms

deprive, dispossess, divest, strip

Synonym Discussion of 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.