# bequest

/bɪˈkwɛst/ (US) · /bɪkwˈɛst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bequest
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a gift in a will

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

money or property that you give to a person or organization after you die.

For teachers: a legacy of property or assets transferred to a beneficiary upon the owner's death according to a will.

- The local library received a generous bequest from a former teacher.
- The university's research department was significantly expanded thanks to a multi-million dollar bequest from a prominent alumnus.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'leave' or 'make'.

### 2. something handed down

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

something valuable, like a tradition or idea, that is passed from one generation to the next.

For teachers: something handed down or transmitted from a predecessor or from the past.

- The freedom we enjoy today is a bequest from those who fought for it.
- The philosopher viewed the scientific method as a vital intellectual bequest to future generations.

Teaching tip: In this sense, 'legacy' is much more common in modern speech; 'bequest' adds a very formal, almost sacred tone.

### 3. to leave by will

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

to officially give something to someone in a will.

For teachers: to give or leave by will; to hand down through a legal document.

- He chose to bequest his entire art collection to the city museum.
- The document specified how the patriarch intended to bequest his estates among his surviving kin.

Usage: The verb form is rare in modern English; 'bequeath' is the standard verb used today.

## Examples

- The old library was a generous bequest to the city.
- The lawyer explained that the bequest would only be valid if the terms of the will were followed exactly.
- The museum's collection was largely funded by a substantial bequest from a private collector, allowing the institution to expand its archives significantly.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.