furnish

verb

fur·​nish ˈfər-nish 

furnished; furnishing; furnishes

transitive verb

1

: to provide with what is needed

The students are furnished with the necessary materials.

especially : to equip with furniture

The inn is beautifully furnished.

2

: supply, give

furnished food and shelter for the refugees

furnisher noun

Synonyms of furnish

• equip
• supply

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

Every guest room has found its inspiration in a different Asian or African country—the Mali room, for example, is furnished with rich mud cloths, cut-brass lamps, gleaming raw-silk curtains, and wooden masks. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026

The case had gone to trial after a team of British detectives descended on the island to investigate claims that Misick and his ministers were furnishing their lavish lifestyles through corrupt deals — allegations the former premier and his co-defendants denied. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026

Ambrosia Chocolate, founded in 1894, was known as the largest manufacturer of pure chocolate products, furnishing the chocolate coating for much of the candy produced in Milwaukee. —Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 4 Feb. 2026

Johnson and the lull after early record-breaking business Johnson’s early £35m signing came with the intention of rectifying the mistakes made in the summer window, which Glasner had publicly complained had not furnished him with a squad capable of competing on four fronts. —Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for furnish

• burnish

Kids Definition

furnish

verb

fur·​nish ˈfər-nish 

1

: to provide with what is needed

the cave furnished us with shelter

especially : to provide with furniture

furnish an apartment

2

: to supply or give to someone or something

we'll furnish the food for the guests

furnisher noun