Bequest
noun /bɪˈkwɛst/ — Something left to a person in a will; a legacy
Definition
A gift of personal property or money left to someone in a will. The bequest is the act of giving that extends beyond death — the intention to benefit someone you will not live to see receive it.
Beyond the definition
Bequest is love that outlasts the life that generated it. Every bequest is a message about who mattered — the person who gave a library to a city, who left a house to a niece, who remembered the friend no one else did.
Origin & history
Old English: becwethan (to declare, to say). Related to 'quoth' (said). A bequest is literally a spoken declaration — originally a verbal gift, later formalised in writing.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her bequest to the university library carried her name forward into a future she never saw.
He received a small bequest from a relative he barely remembered — enough to matter.
The bequest was the last conversation she had with the world.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Bequest” when the meaning fits your context: A gift of personal property or money left to someone in a will. The bequest is the act of giving that extends beyond death — the intention to benefit someone you will not live to see receive it.
Synonyms
legacy, inheritance, gift in a will
Antonyms
acquisition, purchase
Related words
Bequest vs legacy
A bequest is a specific asset gifted in a will. Legacy refers to the broader, long-lasting impact or inheritance left behind by a person.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Adult Standing at Ancient Forest Entrance
An adult stands at the entrance of a quiet forest, holding a glowing talisman that illuminates the path ahead.
The talisman is a small, significant object passed into the adult's care. A bequest is this act of giving personal property or money in a will, extending an intention to benefit another beyond the lifetime of the giver.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Bequest" mean?
Bequest is noun meaning: Something left to a person in a will; a legacy. A gift of personal property or money left to someone in a will. The bequest is the act of giving that extends beyond death — the intention to benefit someone you will not live to see receive it.
Where does the word "Bequest" come from?
Old English: becwethan (to declare, to say). Related to 'quoth' (said). A bequest is literally a spoken declaration — originally a verbal gift, later formalised in writing.