bespoke
adjective
be·spoke bi-ˈspōk 
bē-
variants or less commonly bespoken
bi-ˈspō-kən
bē-
1
a
: custom-made
a bespoke suit
b
: dealing in or producing custom-made articles
a bespoke tailor
2
dialect : engaged
Did you know?
In the English language of yore, the verb bespeak had various meanings, including "to speak," "to accuse," and "to complain." In the 16th century, bespeak acquired another meaning—"to order or arrange in advance." It is from that sense that we get the adjective bespoke, referring to clothes and other things that are ordered before they are made. You are most likely to encounter this adjective in British contexts, such as the 2008 Reuters news story about a young pig in Northern England who was fitted with "bespoke miniature footwear" (custom-made Wellington boots) to help it overcome a phobia of mud.
Synonyms
- custom
- custom-made
- custom-tailored
- customized
- made-to-order
- tailor-made
- tailored
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a wealthy man who can easily afford bespoke suits
Recent Examples on the Web Ask your butcher to grind part chuck with short ribs or brisket and live your most bespoke life. 
Mehreen Karim, Bon Appétit, 21 June 2022 The marketing, the approach has to be very bespoke. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 May 2022 For a retreat in Bellport, New York, designer Aamir Khandwala enlisted artist Shantell Martin to go wild on the kitchen wall (using her trademark Sharpie), resulting in a bespoke graphic wall treatment that's also a one-of-a-kind artwork. Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 22 Apr. 2022 To avoid a costly brain drain and a stagnant, unmotivated workforce, leaders need to reconcile themselves to providing a much more flexible and bespoke approach to employee engagement. David Carry, Forbes, 5 July 2021 Frederick Chin, who serves as Chief Executive Officer for Viewpoint Collection, explains that high-end real estate in today's market requires a very bespoke approach. Neal Leitereg, Forbes, 22 May 2021 But some of our projects are directly very bespoke. Christopher Marquis, Forbes, 18 May 2021 Artemis is a brilliant little dude who's big on bespoke black suits but not authority. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 June 2020 Then, stop in Flagstaff to refuel at Macy’s European Coffee House, where bespoke coffee concoctions and healthy breakfast fare are served all day long. Macy Sirmans, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2020 See More
Mehreen Karim, Bon Appétit, 21 June 2022 The marketing, the approach has to be very bespoke. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 May 2022 For a retreat in Bellport, New York, designer Aamir Khandwala enlisted artist Shantell Martin to go wild on the kitchen wall (using her trademark Sharpie), resulting in a bespoke graphic wall treatment that's also a one-of-a-kind artwork. Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 22 Apr. 2022 To avoid a costly brain drain and a stagnant, unmotivated workforce, leaders need to reconcile themselves to providing a much more flexible and bespoke approach to employee engagement. David Carry, Forbes, 5 July 2021 Frederick Chin, who serves as Chief Executive Officer for Viewpoint Collection, explains that high-end real estate in today's market requires a very bespoke approach. Neal Leitereg, Forbes, 22 May 2021 But some of our projects are directly very bespoke. Christopher Marquis, Forbes, 18 May 2021 Artemis is a brilliant little dude who's big on bespoke black suits but not authority. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 June 2020 Then, stop in Flagstaff to refuel at Macy’s European Coffee House, where bespoke coffee concoctions and healthy breakfast fare are served all day long. Macy Sirmans, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
past participle of bespeak
First Known Use
1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
bespoke 1 of 2
adjective
variants also bespoken
1
as in custom
made or fitted to the needs or preferences of a specific customer a wealthy man who can easily afford bespoke suits Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- custom
- customized
- specialized
- tailored
- custom-made
- tailor-made
- special
- custom-tailored
- made-to-order
- handcrafted
- handmade
- custom-built
- made-to-measure
- particular
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ready-made
- mass-produced
2
as in committed
dialect pledged in marriage having made his fortune, he returned to the village only to discover that the object of his affection was already bespoke Synonyms & Similar Words
- committed
- engaged
- promised
- affianced
- betrothed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unattached
bespoke
2 of 2verb
1
as in reserved
to arrange to have something (as a hotel room) held for one's future use bespoke the rental car weeks in advance of their trip Synonyms & Similar Words
- reserved
- booked
- hired
- earmarked
- contracted
- retained
- engaged
2
as in displayed
to make known (something abstract) through outward signs her expression throughout the meeting bespoke great boredom Synonyms & Similar Words
- displayed
- revealed
- demonstrated
- showed
- manifested
- exposed
- communicated
- betrayed
- advertised
- declared
- disclosed
- announced
- gave away
- evinced
- sounded
- broadcast
- uncovered
- publicized
- unbosomed
- proclaimed
- projected
- uncloaked
- placarded
- bared
- aired
- blazed
- broadcasted
- trumpeted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- twisted
- distorted
- disguised
- misrepresented
- camouflaged
- belied
- falsified
- concealed
- covered
- whitewashed
- veiled
- gilded
- varnished
- garbled
- masked
- obscured
- hid
- gilt
- occluded
- glossed (over)
- counterfeited
3
as in requested
to make a request for milady bespoke our indulgence, inviting us to wait in the foyer while she attended to other matters Synonyms & Similar Words
- requested
- sought
- desired
- required
- demanded
- solicited
- pled (for)
- requisitioned
- sued (for)
- spoke (for)
- quested
- plead (for)
- pleaded (for)
- claimed
- invited
- invoked
- asked (for)
- called (for)
- clamored (for)
- urged
- enjoined
- importuned
- applied (for)
- petitioned (for)
- insisted (on)
- wished (for)
- exacted
- pressed (for)
- begged (for)
4
as in indicated
to serve as a sign or symptom of her impressive virtuosity as a pianist bespeaks years of diligent practice Synonyms & Similar Words
- indicated
- meant
- denoted
- pointed (to)
- betokened
- foreshowed
- signified
- told (of)
- presaged
- foretold
- boded