furnish

/ˈfɜːnɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfɜːrnɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfər-nish/ (ame, mw)

furnish — verb

  • furnishpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • furnisheshe / she / it
  • furnishedpast simple
  • furnishing-ing form

1. to put items such as chairs, tables, beds, or shelves into a room or building so

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to put items such as chairs, tables, beds, or shelves into a room or building so that it is fully ready for people to live or work in it.

例句

Niran and his wife spent the weekend furnishing their new apartment with secondhand finds.

The bedrooms are simply furnished with a bed, a desk, and a small wardrobe.

passive: be furnished with [specific items]

同義詞
  • equip

    broader than furnish; includes tools, appliances, or technology needed for a function, not just furniture

  • outfit

    less formal than furnish; suggests providing all necessary gear or supplies for a specific purpose

  • appoint

    formal register; typically used for high-quality or official furnishings in stately buildings or offices

反義詞
  • strip

    to remove all furniture from a room

  • empty

    to make a room completely bare of furniture

文法句型

furnish + noun phrase (room/house/apartment)

furnish + noun phrase + with + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently used in the passive form (e.g., 'The room is furnished with...') to describe what items are in a space. The active voice emphasises the person doing the furnishing.

常見錯誤

❌They decorated the apartment with a bed and a table.
✅They furnished the apartment with a bed and a table.
💡'furnish' means adding functional furniture; 'decorate' means adding ornamental or aesthetic items.

2. to make something needed available to someone, such as information, evidence, do

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to make something needed available to someone, such as information, evidence, documents, or financial resources.

例句

Gabriel furnished the police with a detailed description of the suspect.

furnish + somebody + with + [information]

The report furnishes valuable data on the effects of climate change in Southeast Asia.

同義詞
  • provide

    more common and less formal than furnish; used in everyday and official contexts alike

  • supply

    suggests meeting a need in a systematic or ongoing way rather than a single act

  • equip

    implies providing tools, skills, or resources that enable someone to perform a task

反義詞
  • withhold

    to deliberately refuse to give something that is needed

  • deprive

    to take away something someone already has or prevent them from having it

文法句型

furnish + somebody + with + something

furnish + something + to + somebody

用法筆記

More formal than 'give' or 'provide'. Common in academic writing, official requests, and legal contexts. The pattern 'furnish + somebody + with + something' is far more frequent than 'furnish + something + to + somebody'.

常見錯誤

❌Can you furnish me a pen?
✅Can you give me a pen?
💡'furnish' sounds overly formal for small everyday items. Use it for important things such as information, evidence, or official documents.
❌He furnished them water.
✅He furnished them with water.
💡'furnish' requires 'with' when the recipient comes before the thing provided.