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furnish

B1
Fairly common

Pronunciation

UK

  • /fˈɜːnɪʃ/

US

  • /ˈfɜrnɪʃ/

Meanings

Verb

  1. to put furniture or equipment into a room or building

  2. to provide someone with something needed, such as information or supplies

Beyond the definition

To furnish something is to get it ready by giving it what it needs. Think of an empty house: it has potential, but it needs beds, tables, chairs, and other basic things before people can really live there. You can furnish a room with furniture, but you can also furnish someone with information, tools, or help. In both cases, the idea is the same: you provide what is needed for a purpose.

Examples

  1. 1

    Office setup

    They hired a designer to furnish the new office before the staff moved in.

  2. 2

    Rental housing

    The landlord promised to furnish the flat with a sofa, a bed, and a small table.

    • Patternfurnish + place + with + things

      provide a place with particular things

  3. 3

    Training benefits

    The internship furnished her with the skills she needed for the job.

    • Patternfurnish + someone + with + something useful

      provide someone with it

  4. 4

    Formal documents

    The bank asked him to furnish proof of address before they approved the loan.

    • Usage

      furnish is common in formal English for providing documents or information

More examples
  1. 5

    Evidence

    The investigation did not furnish enough evidence to support the claim.

See also

Similar

Shades of meaning

Contrast

Used with (collocations)

  • furnish a room
  • fully furnished
  • furnished apartment
  • tastefully furnished

Word family

Explore

  • interior design
  • fixtures and fittings

Forms and spellings

4 forms open this card.

Main spelling

  • furnishverb

Forms

  • furnishedpast tenseverb
  • furnishing-ing formverb
  • furnishesverb