What does "bequest" mean?
The act of bequeathing or leaving by will.
Bequest
/bɪˈkwɛst/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of bequeathing or leaving by will.
- Grammar: bequest is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: legacy, gift, attested copy, bequeathal.
- Useful contrasts: disinheritance, disinheriting, unspecified bequest.
- Usage evidence: His generous bequest enabled the church to continue funding the youth group.
How to use "bequest"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "bequest" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "bequest" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "bequest" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "bequest" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "bequest" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "legacy" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "bequest", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of bequeathing or leaving by will.
- 2 (law) a gift of personal property by will wordnet
- 3 The transfer of property upon the owner's death according to the will of the deceased.
"2006 SHERRY CLODMAN & EDWARD H. PEARCE: Well Advised. p.25 Civil Sector Press →ISBN A specific bequest is the gift of a specific sum of money, or the gift of a specific property or a particular asset. Perhaps the most common type of bequest, and undoubtedly the most certain, it is the first to be paid after the settlement of estate debts."
- 4 That which is left by will; a legacy.
- 5 That which has been handed down or transmitted.
"Yet some odor of religion is still lingering here, the bequest of pious souls, who had grace to enjoy a foretaste of immortal life."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A person's inheritance; an amount of property given by will.
Verb
- 1 To give as a bequest; bequeath. transitive
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"His generous bequest enabled the church to continue funding the youth group."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "bequest"?
Common synonyms include: legacy, gift, attested copy, bequeathal, bequeathal, bequeathing.
How do you use "bequest" in a sentence?
His generous bequest enabled the church to continue funding the youth group.
How do you pronounce "bequest"?
Pronounced /bɪˈkwɛst/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English biqueste, bequeste (“will, testament, bequest”), from be + -quiste, queste (“saying, utterance, testament, will, legacy”), from Old English *cwist, *cwiss (“saying”) (compare Old English andcwiss, ġecwis, uncwisse, etc.), from Proto-Germanic *kwissiz (“saying”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷet- (“to say”). Related to Old English andcwiss (“answer, reply”), Old English uncwisse (“dumb, mute”), Middle English bequethen (“to bequeath”). Not related to quest, which is from Latin. More at quoth, bequeath.
Etymology 2
From Middle English biquesten, from the noun (see above).