endow

verb

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

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.
According to the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, one of the unalienable rights we are endowed with is the right to life. Moti Mizrahi, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2025 Director David Cromer, whose sensibility gravitates between stark and dark, endows the staging with macabre elegance. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025 Being the first Obama, culturally speaking, means that Winfrey was never endowed with the immense power of the actual Obama. Armond White, National Review, 7 Mar. 2025 However, Rafael Jimenez-Flores, PhD, the J.T. Parker endowed chair for dairy foods in the Department of Food Science and Technology at The Ohio State University, stresses the importance of reinstating the proficiency testing program as soon as possible. Parents, 9 May 2025 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 29 May. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on endow

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