Word
endowed
Phoneticsen·dowed, stress on the second syllable
US/ɛnˈdaʊd/
UK/ɛndˈaʊd/
Definitions
01having a gift or quality
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. born with a special talent, quality, or physical feature.
adj. naturally provided with a particular quality, talent, or physical attribute; often used with the preposition 'with'.
“She was endowed with a beautiful singing voice that filled the whole hall.”
“The young researcher was highly endowed with the analytical skills necessary to solve the complex mathematical proof.”
Usage
Usually follows the verb 'to be' and takes the preposition 'with'.
02financially supported
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. describing an organization, like a university, that has a permanent supply of money from gifts.
adj. provided with a permanent fund or source of income, typically through a large financial gift or legacy.
“The university has several endowed chairs for famous professors.”
“The museum's future is secure thanks to an endowed fund established by a local philanthropist in the 1920s.”
Usage
Often used as an attributive adjective before a noun like 'chair', 'position', or 'institution'.
Antonyms
03having a large body part
C2 · Proficiency Informal · Humorous
adj. having large breasts or a large penis.
adj. possessing large or impressive sexual organs; almost exclusively used in the compound 'well-endowed'.
“The actor was known for being well-endowed, which he often joked about.”
“The statue depicted a well-endowed deity, symbolising fertility and abundance in the ancient culture.”
Teaching tip
This sense is almost always used with the prefix 'well-'. Be careful using it in professional settings as it refers to physical anatomy.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“I think we all agree our minds are not blank slates, genetically endowed with nothing more than general-purpose learning abilities.” “They endowed the foundation initially with 486 acres (2 square kilometers) of land .” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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