ENGLISH
REFERENCE

conferred

v.
C1 Advanced US //kənˈfɝd// UK //kənfˈɜːd// con·ferred

v. to give someone an official title, degree, or right. You use this when an authority grants something formal to a person.

v. to grant or bestow a title, degree, or right formally. Transitive; typically used in the passive voice with 'on' or 'upon' when referring to the recipient.


SIMPLE

The university conferred a degree on her.

CONTEXTUAL

The committee conferred the award on the scientist for her groundbreaking research.

COMPLEX

The ancient council conferred the title of protector upon the general, granting him authority over the northern provinces.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive. It often appears in the passive voice: 'honours were conferred on him'.

Pitfall

conferred with himconferred the title on himLearners confuse 'confer' (to grant) with 'consult' (to discuss). 'Confer with' means to discuss, but the primary sense is granting something.

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