Bequeath: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used in legal or formal contexts to refer to leaving personal property or valuables to someone through a will. Often used when discussing inheritance.

• She decided to bequeath her jewelry to her grandchildren.
• He bequeathed his entire estate to a charity.

Used in both formal and informal contexts to describe giving someone something after one's death. It can refer to physical items, money, or property.

• She left her nephew a collection of rare books.
• He left everything he owned to his wife.

Used in both formal and informal contexts. It can refer to transferring knowledge, information, or physical items. Often used when discussing sharing or relaying things to the next generation.

• The elder passed on his wisdom to the young apprentice.
• She passed on her mother's wedding dress to her daughter.

Generally used in less formal contexts, especially when referring to passing items or traditions from one generation to the next. Often used in families.

• My grandmother handed down this recipe book to my mother.
• These family traditions have been handed down for centuries.

Used in legal contexts to describe the act of officially documenting and designating how one's belongings should be distributed after death.

• He willed his entire fortune to his children.
• She made sure to will her estate equally among her heirs.

Used in the context of leaving something to someone in a will, typically referring to personal property or assets that are passed on after death.

• She decided to bequeath her grandmother's necklace to her daughter.
• In his will, he bequeathed his entire estate to his son.

Used when sending or passing something from one place or person to another, often referring to signals, diseases, or genetic information.

• The radio tower is transmitting signals across the city.
• The virus can be transmitted through close contact.

Used when giving an honor, gift, or award, often in a formal or ceremonial manner.

• The committee decided to bestow the prestigious award on an outstanding scientist.
• During the ceremony, the queen bestowed knighthood upon the brave soldier.

Used when communicating a message, idea, or feeling to someone, effectively transporting information from one person to another.

• The novelist used simple language to convey complex emotions.
• The teacher conveyed the importance of the project to her students.

Used when giving knowledge, wisdom, or information, often in a teaching or instructive sense.

• The mentor was able to impart valuable life lessons to his apprentice.
• She imparted her knowledge of cooking to her children.