furnish

play

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

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

Picciolo worked with local veterans groups to secure cash donations to purchase items to help furnish apartments for 17 veterans who recently moved in.

— alicia fabbre, Daily Southtown, "Groups help needy veterans in Will County", 5 July 2017
Their 2,600-square-foot home was undergoing a renovation, and the bedroom was one of the few almost- furnished rooms in the house.

— jonathan small, Good Housekeeping, "I Had to Walk Through Fire for My Kids", 30 June 2017
Their mojo rising from the dregs of a 10-20 start, the bunch that animated the art of the great escape in 2014 and 2015 furnished a new chapter in style on Friday at Kauffman Stadium.

— vahe gregorian, kansascity, "Vahe Gregorian: Royals back to the future with another great escape", 23 June 2017
The County Board of Supervisors, which furnishes the lion’s share of the school budget, would not make up the difference.

— moriah balingit, Washington Post, "Fairfax schools brace for bigger class sizes, new student fees amid budget woes", 21 June 2017
Also new this season is Liquid Bread, a beer garden in a repurposed parking lot at the corner of Beach 101st Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard, furnished with picnic tables and games such as cornhole, bocce and Ping-Pong.

— julie besonen, New York Times, "The Food, Fun and Ferry Service of Rockaway Beach", 21 June 2017
The Anniston Star reported that the council approved municipal sales tax rebates on construction materials, furnishing and other equipment, and four-year rebates of half the city's lodging taxes and property taxes over the current property rate.

— william thornton, AL.com, "Anniston approves downtown hotel incentives", 20 June 2017
The proposed police agreements call for Oceanside to provide two sworn officers from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week, and Escondido to furnish one officer for the same amount of time.

— phil diehl, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Transit district to hire city police", 19 June 2017
The coffee shop is surprisingly spacious, with several rooms furnished with assorted tables and seating arrangements conducive to reading, eating, socializing ... or getting some work done.

— hannah leone, chicagotribune.com, "Oswego: Outdoor recreation meets charming local businesses", 14 June 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!

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

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. 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

FURNISH Defined for English Language Learners

furnish

play

verb

Definition of furnish for English Language Learners

: to provide (a room or building) with furniture
: to supply or give (something) to someone or something
: to supply or give to (someone) something that is needed or wanted

FURNISH Defined for Kids

furnish

play

verb fur·nish \ˈfər-nish\

Definition of furnish for Students

furnished

;

furnishing

1 : to provide with furniture furnish a house
2 : to provide with what is needed “I'm going to give you all a nice quiet cell—unless you furnish bail.” — Richard and Florence Atwater, Mr. Popper's Penguins
3 : to supply to someone or something We'll furnish food for the party.