bequeath

verb

be·​queath bi-ˈkwēth How to pronounce bequeath (audio) -ˈkwēt͟h How to pronounce bequeath (audio)
bē-
bequeathed; bequeathing; bequeaths
Synonyms of bequeath

transitive verb

1
: to give or leave by will (see will entry 2 sense 1)
—used especially of personal property
a ring bequeathed to her by her grandmother
2
: to hand down : transmit
lessons bequeathed to future generations
bequeathal
bi-ˈkwē-thəl How to pronounce bequeath (audio)
-t͟həl, 
bē-
noun

Synonyms of bequeath

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of bequeath in a Sentence

He bequeathed his paintings to the museum. Lessons of the past are bequeathed to future generations.
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.
Oftentimes people will bequeath money or belongings as a symbol of the strength of a relationship. — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026 After the princess’s tragic death in 1997, this jewelry set was bequeathed to her youngest son, who then gave it to his wife. — Valentine Ulgu-Servant, Vanity Fair, 10 Aug. 2026 Robert’s will stated that the majority of his $2 million fortune was to be bequeathed to his wife. — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 6 Aug. 2026 But instead, many Africans were further exploited and bequeathed with debt that continues to this day. — Literary Hub, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bequeath

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bequethen, from Old English becwethan, from be- + cwethan to say — more at quoth

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bequeath was before the 12th century

Rhymes for bequeath

See All Rhymes for bequeath

Browse Nearby Words

bepuzzle
bequeath
bequeathal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bequeath.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bequeath. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

bequeath

verb
be·​queath bi-ˈkwēth How to pronounce bequeath (audio) -ˈkwēt͟h How to pronounce bequeath (audio)
1
: to give or leave property by a will
2
: hand down sense 1
traditions bequeathed by our ancestors
bequeathal
-əl How to pronounce bequeath (audio)
noun

Legal Definition

bequeath

transitive verb
be·​queath bi-ˈkwēth, -ˈkwēt͟h How to pronounce bequeath (audio)
: to give by will
—used especially of personal property but sometimes of real property see also legacy, legatee compare devise
Etymology

Old English becwethan to speak to, address, leave by will, from be- to, about + cwethan to say

More from Merriam-Webster on bequeath

Nglish: Translation of bequeath for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of vacuous

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All