as in gift
something given to someone without expectation of a return
the company's annual Yuletide bestowals include a holiday party and substantial bonuses
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Recent Examples of bestowal
The bestowal of titles is a centuries-old practice in the royal family.
—
Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
That list had some of the feeling of the bestowal of the King’s birthday honors, except that nearly everyone on it had been charged with a federal crime.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals.
—David C. Kennedy, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Sep. 2025
If George becomes heir to the throne before finishing school, William may delay any bestowal of the Prince of Wales title.
—Simon Perry, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
That list had some of the feeling of the bestowal of the King’s birthday honors, except that nearly everyone on it had been charged with a federal crime.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals.
—David C. Kennedy, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Sep. 2025
If George becomes heir to the throne before finishing school, William may delay any bestowal of the Prince of Wales title.
—Simon Perry, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bestowal
Noun
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As previously noted, one of the gifts of Russian greats that Saunders most celebrates is their way of locating complex truths in the stuff of ordinary lives—their towns and farms, and their families, their servants; their animals.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Doing it for the first time is always a celebration and doing it at Critics’ Week is an immense gift because of the care the film receives from the moment it is invited.—
Roberto Prieto,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Noun
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Warm 75-degree weather and Lizzo were saving graces at the 32nd amfAR gala by the Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc ocean in a luxe-auction Thursday night that racked up a massive $20 million, with donations up 18% from last year for the AIDS research organization.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
22 May 2026
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His campaign reported more than $671,000 in unitemized contributions of less than $100 each since April 19, versus less than $24,000 for Raman and less than $2,900 of the small donations for Bass.—
Connor Sheets,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
Noun
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While eating at the company cafe after the presentation, Otone and Kensuke meet a child version of a humanoid who’s been brought back to REbirth HQ for maintenance.—
Vulture,
Vulture,
17 May 2026
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In a presentation for young athletes — and for the pro teams and college athletic departments that might invite him to speak — Stripling’s firm uses his story of a baseball prospect that got a $900,000 up-front payment and spent the $500,000 after taxes on a red Lamborghini.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
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This is complicity spurred on by a certain kind of Western readers desire to maintain their romantic image of Russia’s past without having to engage critical with Russia’s present.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
At present, that additional tuition for nonresident students is the same across the UC’s nine general campuses.—
Tarini Mehta,
Sacbee.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bestowal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bestowal. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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