furnish

verb

fur·​nish ˈfər-nish 

furnished; furnishing; furnishes

transitive verb

1

: to provide with what is needed

especially : to equip with furniture

The inn is beautifully furnished.

2

: supply, give

furnished food and shelter for the refugees

furnisher noun

Synonyms

• accoutre
• accouter
• equip
• fit (out)
• gird
• kit (up or out) [chiefly British]
• outfit
• provision
• rig
• supply

Choose the Right Synonym for furnish

furnish, equip, outfit, appoint, accoutre mean to supply one with what is needed.

furnish implies the provision of any or all essentials for performing a function.

a sparsely furnished apartment

equip suggests the provision of something making for efficiency in action or use.

a fully equipped kitchen

outfit implies provision of a complete list or set of articles as for a journey, an expedition, or a special occupation.

outfitted the family for a ski trip

appoint implies provision of complete and usually elegant or elaborate equipment or furnishings.

a lavishly appointed apartment

accoutre suggests the supplying of personal dress or equipment for a special activity.

fully accoutred members of a polar expedition

Examples of furnish in a Sentence

The inn is beautifully furnished.

He has enough money to furnish the apartment nicely.

We'll furnish the food for the party.

Can he furnish the information to us?

Recent Examples on the Web

The Rooms: Each of the six bedrooms has water views and is lavishly furnished with antiques, handwoven rugs, custom wallpaper, and theatrical lighting. —Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024

With the assistance of Cissy’s memory, Instagram posts, a bartender, and tattoo artist, Kaya, Elsbeth, and Mac retrace Mac’s steps from the night before to piece together what happened, furnishing a timeline to fill in the sizable gaps in Mac’s memory, and, sadly, a dead body. —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024

This results in compensation for young professionals who are able to buy new cars, furnish apartments and establish themselves. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

Aspen Hospitality, the team behind the Little Nell and Limelight Hotels, is working with RH (formerly Restoration Hardware) to outfit the homes, and buyers will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase the residences fully furnished. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English furnisshen, from Anglo-French furniss-, stem of furnir, fournir to complete, equip, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German frummen to further, fruma advantage — more at foremost

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

furnish

verb

fur·​nish ˈfər-nish 

1

: to provide with what is needed

the cave furnished us with shelter

especially : to provide with furniture

furnish an apartment

2

: to supply or give to someone or something

we'll furnish the food for the guests

furnisher noun