sponsor 1 of 2

noun

ˈspän(t)-sər How to pronounce sponsor (audio)
Definition of sponsornext
as in patron
a person who takes the responsibility for some other person or thing you'll need a sponsor to recommend you in order to get into the exclusive country club

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

sponsor

2 of 2

verb

as in to fund

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sponsor
Noun
In addition to the new Iran measures, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also rather quietly ended its designation for Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism. — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026 The winner was to have received a sponsor exemption to the Austin tournament. — ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
People with an employer willing to sponsor contributions can add up to $2,500 from pre-tax salary annually. — Jessica Lipscomb, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026 In May 2026, Page Six reported earlier this year that Bezos and Sánchez Bezos paid at least $10 million to sponsor the gala and were named honorary co-chairs alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Wintour herself. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sponsor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sponsor
  1. patron
  2. fund
  3. supporter
  4. finance
  5. benefactor
  6. underwrite
  7. set up
  8. patronize
Noun
  • To date, patrons of the Central Arkansas Library System have submitted reconsideration requests only rarely.
    — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2026
  • After Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos served as lead sponsors and honorary chairs of the 2026 Met Gala, multiple sources say Wintour had hoped the couple might return as major patrons in 2027.
    — Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of patron
Verb
  • If the model works, Hund says Rare Ventures will expand to include more diseases and potentially fund more treatments.
    — Brad Quick, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Pricey summer rentals funded a renovation to add central air and upgrade the saltwater pool.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of fund
Noun
  • His supporters say the condemnation is merely a sign of Crump’s skill.
    — Ryan Young, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Among those younger supporters is Matt Kelly, president of the UMass Lowell College Democrats.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of supporter
Verb
  • That’s as private credit is financing the AI boom as well, while chipmaker Nvidia is even leveraging its balance sheet to back AI deals.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Paul Bennett, Managing Partner at Madox Square LLP, said extraordinary Chinese profits financed a generation of European overcapacity.
    — Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of finance
Noun
  • The Warning were benefactors of this kind of sisterhood, finding open arms from predecessors like Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale, as well as the Pretty Reckless frontwoman Taylor Momsen, and Lilith Czar.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 27 Aug. 2026
  • After the group, they were approached by a wealthy benefactor who wanted to help.
    — Vito Emanuel, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of benefactor
Verb
  • Local unions and guilds and indie producers have countered by looking to American web giants to dig deeper in their pockets to underwrite the cost of producing homemade content.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Within a few weeks, Iran managed to damage, destroy, or render irrelevant large parts of the archipelago of military bases that had underwritten American primacy in the Middle East.
    — MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of underwrite
Verb
  • In the end, however, Neto manages to round Ferdi Kadioglu, setting up Joao Pedro for a great chance.
    — Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The vibes continue to pick up during the guests’ predinner fashion show, for which the crew sets up a red carpet.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of set up
Verb
  • As early as the 1920s, Coco Chanel patronized Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes company, famously designing the costumes for Le Train Bleu, choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska and premiered in 1924.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Beaverbrook is a five-star country house hotel that was once patronized by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and other 20th-century celebrities.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of patronize

Browse Nearby Words

spongy
sponsor
sponsored
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sponsor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sponsor. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on sponsor

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sponsor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All