furnish

[fur-nish]

verb (used with object)

1. to supply (a house, room, etc.) with necessary furniture, carpets, appliances, etc.

   Synonyms: outfit, rig

2. to provide or supply (often followed bywith ).

   The delay furnished me with the time I needed.

   Synonyms: outfit, rig

noun

1. paper pulp and any ingredients added to it prior to its introduction into a papermaking machine.

furnish

/ ˈfɜːnɪʃ /

verb

1. to provide (a house, room, etc) with furniture, carpets, etc

2. to equip with what is necessary; fit out

3. to give; supply

   the records furnished the information required

Other Word Forms

• furnisher noun
• overfurnish verb (used with object)
• prefurnish verb (used with object)
• refurnish verb (used with object)
• underfurnish verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of furnish¹

1400–50; late Middle English furnisshen, from Old French furniss-, long stem of furnir “to accomplish, furnish,” from Germanic; compare Old High German frumjan “to provide”

Word History and Origins

Origin of furnish¹

C15: from Old French fournir , of Germanic origin; related to Old High German frummen to carry out

Synonym Study

Furnish, appoint, equip all refer to providing something necessary. Furnish emphasizes the idea of providing necessary or customary services or appliances in living quarters: to furnish board; a room meagerly furnished with a bed, desk, and a wooden chair. Appoint, a more formal word now usually used in the past participle appointed, means to furnish completely with all requisites or accessories or in an elegant style: a well-appointed house. Equip means to supply with necessary materials or apparatus for some service, action, or undertaking; it emphasizes preparation: to equip a vessel, a soldier.

Example Sentences

The story continues that she found a fully furnished apartment for her family immediately after giving birth and while still in the hospital bed.

From Los Angeles Times

The newspaper reported that the furnishings had been rearranged and the picture was missing from the wall when they raided the property.

From BBC

Once upon a time, each decade had its own distinctive look in dress and music, and the appearance of architecture, cars, furnishings and appliances changed noticeably, about every 20 years.

From Salon

Yamaguchi’s apartment, which is just across the hallway from her studio, is minimally furnished.

From Los Angeles Times

In the bedroom, a charcoal-colored accent wall, vintage furnishings and art help to create an inviting retreat.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• afford 
• dispense 
• hand over 
• provide 
• turn over