confer

verb

con·fer kən-ˈfər How to pronounce confer (audio)

conferred; conferring

intransitive verb

: to compare views or take counsel : consult

transitive verb

: to bestow from or as if from a position of superiority

conferred an honorary degree on her

knowing how to read was a gift conferred with manhood

Murray Kempton

: to give (something, such as a property or characteristic) to someone or something

a reputation for power will confer power

John Spanier

conferment

kən-ˈfər-mənt How to pronounce confer (audio)

noun

conferrable

kən-ˈfər-ə-bəl How to pronounce confer (audio)

adjective

conferral

kən-ˈfər-əl How to pronounce confer (audio)

noun

conferrer

kən-ˈfər-ər How to pronounce confer (audio)

noun

Did you know?

Confer vs. Consult

Confer and consult are very closely related in meaning, and each has senses that are synonymous with the other’s. But as is so often the case with near-synonyms, there are contexts in which one word is preferable to the other.

If you confer with someone, it is entirely possible that you will be seeking advice, but you could also simply be having a discussion (“they conferred privately before making a decision”). If you are consulting someone or something, it is more likely that you are seeking advice (“he consulted his doctor before deciding on a course of treatment”). Consult is unambiguously the correct choice when one is seeking guidance or information from a non-human source; you would consult (not confer with) a dictionary for information on a word.

The sense of confer that is concerned with giving something (as in, “education confers many benefits”) is not shared by consult.

Example Sentences

The cameleers … conferred with each other about the safest path across.

Greg Child, Mixed Emotions: Mountaineering Writings of Greg Child, 1993 He liked the ease and glitter of the life, and the lustre conferred on him by being a member of this group of rich and conspicuous people.

Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth, 1905 It was a traditional compliment to be whinged at by an Englishman. It was his way of saying he trusted you, he was conferring upon you the privilege of getting to know the real him.

Margaret Atwood, New Yorker, 5 Mar.1990 The lawyer and judge conferred about the ruling. the British monarch continues to confer knighthood on those who are outstanding in their fields of endeavor

Recent Examples on the Web Now, the judge ordered Trump's lawyers to confer with the Justice Department and prepare a joint filing explaining their views on who should serve as the special master.

Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 9 Sep. 2022 Monday’s order directed the parties to confer and return to court by Sept. 9 with a list of candidates to serve as special master and a draft order defining the master’s responsibility.

Jess Bravin, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 Calabrese ordered that attorneys on both sides confer on the next steps and issue a report before Sept. 13.

Adam Ferrise, cleveland, 23 Aug. 2022 Renaissance Theaterworks performs Sarah Treem's drama about two female biologists of different generations who confer and clash personally and professionally — about the science and meaning of menstruation.

Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2022 The judge ordered the Justice Department to confer with lawyers for Trump and alert the court by 3 p.m. Friday as to whether Trump objects to the unsealing.

Anchorage Daily News, 12 Aug. 2022 Water conditions will be monitored on a day-to-day basis, and school officials will confer with city officials to determine when in-person learning can resume, the school district said in a statement Monday.

Theresa Waldrop, CNN, 30 Aug. 2022 The judge ordered the Justice Department to confer with lawyers for Trump and alert the court by 3 p.m. Friday as to whether Trump objects to the unsealing.

Anchorage Daily News, 12 Aug. 2022 Reinhart ordered federal prosecutors to confer with Trump lawyers.

Jane Musgrave, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2022 See More

confer

verb

as in to grant

to give the ownership or benefit of (something) formally or publicly the British monarch continues to confer knighthood on those who are outstanding in their fields of endeavor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

grant
provide
award
give
offer
bestow
present
accord
vest
show
furnish
contribute
assign
extend
supply
appropriate
appoint
designate
proffer
donate
allocate
name
set
dub
fix

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

revoke
call
rescind
recall
abrogate
drop
nullify
repeal
abort
invalidate
annul
withdraw
void
call off
retract
take back
recant
write off

as in to consult

to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem my parents are going to confer with a financial adviser about saving for their retirement

Synonyms & Similar Words

consult
discuss
talk
parley
counsel
advise
confab
treat
argue
confabulate
talk over
deliberate
bandy
debate
ventilate
moot
suggest
dispute
recommend
chew over
coach
guide
tutor
rehash
palaver
hash (over)
direct
bat (around)
kick around
refer (to)

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of confer are afford, bestow, donate, give, and present. While all these words mean "to convey to another as a possession," confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor).

confer an honorary degree

While the synonyms afford and confer are close in meaning, afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver.

the trees afford shade

a development that affords us some hope

The meanings of bestow and confer largely overlap; however, bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver.

bestow unwanted advice

In some situations, the words donate and confer are roughly equivalent. However, donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity).

donate a piano to the orphanage

The words give and confer can be used in similar contexts, but give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means.

give alms

gave her a ride on a pony

give my love to your mother

While in some cases nearly identical to confer, present carries a note of formality and ceremony.

present an award

单词	confer
释义	confer verb con·fer kən-ˈfər conferred; conferring intransitive verb : to compare views or take counsel : consult transitive verb 1 : to bestow from or as if from a position of superiority conferred an honorary degree on her knowing how to read was a gift conferred with manhood Murray Kempton 2 : to give (something, such as a property or characteristic) to someone or something a reputation for power will confer power John Spanier conferment kən-ˈfər-mənt noun conferrable kən-ˈfər-ə-bəl adjective conferral kən-ˈfər-əl noun conferrer kən-ˈfər-ər noun Did you know? Confer vs. Consult Confer and consult are very closely related in meaning, and each has senses that are synonymous with the other’s. But as is so often the case with near-synonyms, there are contexts in which one word is preferable to the other. If you confer with someone, it is entirely possible that you will be seeking advice, but you could also simply be having a discussion (“they conferred privately before making a decision”). If you are consulting someone or something, it is more likely that you are seeking advice (“he consulted his doctor before deciding on a course of treatment”). Consult is unambiguously the correct choice when one is seeking guidance or information from a non-human source; you would consult (not confer with) a dictionary for information on a word. The sense of confer that is concerned with giving something (as in, “education confers many benefits”) is not shared by consult. Synonyms accord award grant vest See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The cameleers … conferred with each other about the safest path across. Greg Child, Mixed Emotions: Mountaineering Writings of Greg Child, 1993 He liked the ease and glitter of the life, and the lustre conferred on him by being a member of this group of rich and conspicuous people. Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth, 1905 It was a traditional compliment to be whinged at by an Englishman. It was his way of saying he trusted you, he was conferring upon you the privilege of getting to know the real him. Margaret Atwood, New Yorker, 5 Mar.1990 The lawyer and judge conferred about the ruling. the British monarch continues to confer knighthood on those who are outstanding in their fields of endeavor Recent Examples on the Web Now, the judge ordered Trump's lawyers to confer with the Justice Department and prepare a joint filing explaining their views on who should serve as the special master. Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 9 Sep. 2022 Monday’s order directed the parties to confer and return to court by Sept. 9 with a list of candidates to serve as special master and a draft order defining the master’s responsibility. Jess Bravin, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 Calabrese ordered that attorneys on both sides confer on the next steps and issue a report before Sept. 13. Adam Ferrise, cleveland, 23 Aug. 2022 Renaissance Theaterworks performs Sarah Treem's drama about two female biologists of different generations who confer and clash personally and professionally — about the science and meaning of menstruation. Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2022 The judge ordered the Justice Department to confer with lawyers for Trump and alert the court by 3 p.m. Friday as to whether Trump objects to the unsealing. Anchorage Daily News, 12 Aug. 2022 Water conditions will be monitored on a day-to-day basis, and school officials will confer with city officials to determine when in-person learning can resume, the school district said in a statement Monday. Theresa Waldrop, CNN, 30 Aug. 2022 The judge ordered the Justice Department to confer with lawyers for Trump and alert the court by 3 p.m. Friday as to whether Trump objects to the unsealing. Anchorage Daily News, 12 Aug. 2022 Reinhart ordered federal prosecutors to confer with Trump lawyers. Jane Musgrave, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology borrowed from Latin conferō, conferre "to bring or take, convey, bestow, bring together, unite," from con- con- + ferō, ferre "to carry, bear" — more at bear entry 2 First Known Use circa 1500, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense Kids Definition confer verb con·fer kən-ˈfər conferred; conferring 1 : bestow, present Many honors were conferred upon her at graduation. 2 : to compare views especially in studying a problem The umpires decided to confer with one another. confer verb 1 as in to grant to give the ownership or benefit of (something) formally or publicly the British monarch continues to confer knighthood on those who are outstanding in their fields of endeavor Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance grant provide award give offer bestow present accord vest show furnish contribute assign extend supply appropriate appoint designate proffer donate allocate name set dub fix Antonyms & Near Antonyms revoke call rescind recall abrogate drop nullify repeal abort invalidate annul withdraw void call off retract take back recant write off See More 2 as in to consult to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem my parents are going to confer with a financial adviser about saving for their retirement Synonyms & Similar Words consult discuss talk parley counsel advise confab treat argue confabulate talk over deliberate bandy debate ventilate moot suggest dispute recommend chew over coach guide tutor rehash palaver hash (over) direct bat (around) kick around refer (to) Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of confer are afford, bestow, donate, give, and present. While all these words mean "to convey to another as a possession," confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor). confer an honorary degree While the synonyms afford and confer are close in meaning, afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver. the trees afford shade a development that affords us some hope The meanings of bestow and confer largely overlap; however, bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver. bestow unwanted advice In some situations, the words donate and confer are roughly equivalent. However, donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity). donate a piano to the orphanage The words give and confer can be used in similar contexts, but give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means. give alms gave her a ride on a pony give my love to your mother While in some cases nearly identical to confer, present carries a note of formality and ceremony. present an award
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confer

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

verb

Synonym Chooser